Union County Public Health Profile Report
Hemoglobin Screening Among Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes: Estimated Percent (Age-adjusted), 2013-2015
Union 48.9%95% Confidence Interval (34.7% - 63.3%)Description of the Confidence IntervalThe confidence interval indicates the range of probable true values for the level of risk in the community.
A value of "NA" (Not Available) will appear if the confidence interval was not published with the NJSHAD indicator data for this measure.State 61.7%U.S. NA NA=Data not available.Union Compared to State
Description of GaugeDescription of the Gauge
This graphic is based on the county data to the left. It compares the county value of this indicator to the state overall value.- Excellent = The county's value on this indicator is BETTER than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
- Watch = The county's value is BETTER than state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
- Improvement Needed = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
- Reason for Concern = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
The county value is considered statistically significantly different from the state value if the state value is outside the range of the county's 95% confidence interval. If the county's data or 95% confidence interval information is not available, a blank gauge image will be displayed with the message, "missing information."NOTE: The labels used on the gauge graphic are meant to describe the county's status in plain language. The placement of the gauge needle is based solely on the statistical difference between the county and state values. When selecting priority health issues to work on, a county should take into account additional factors such as how much improvement could be made, the U.S. value, the statistical stability of the county number, the severity of the health condition, and whether the difference is clinically significant.
Why Is This Important?
Proper diabetes management requires regular monitoring of blood sugar levels. Glucometers provide immediate feedback on blood sugar levels. An A1C test, however, tells a person what his or her average blood sugar level has been over the past two or three months and is a more reliable indicator of blood sugar control. An A1C level indicates the amount of sugar that is attached to red blood cells (hemoglobin cells). Red blood cells are replaced every two or three months and sugar stays attached to the cells until they die. When levels of blood sugar are high, more sugar is available to attach to red blood cells. For most people with diabetes, the target A1C level is less than 7 percent. Higher levels suggest that a change in therapy may be needed. Therefore, obtaining regular A1C tests plays an important role in diabetes management. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes have an A1C test at least two times a year. However, the test should be conducted more often for individuals who are not meeting target blood sugar goals, or who have had a recent change in therapy. (See [http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/suppl_1/s15#T7])How Are We Doing?
In 2015, 63.6% of New Jersey adults with diagnosed diabetes had at least two glycosylated hemoglobin measurement a year. Hispanics have a substantially lower screening rate (55%) compared to Whites (72.5%), Blacks (60.9%), and Asians (75.3%).What Is Being Done?
The National Diabetes Education Program has instituted the ABC campaign which promotes the screening for A1c (blood glucose), Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol as monitoring measures to help control diabetes and heart disease. The Department of Health has suggested that target values for A1c , Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol be established by health providers in partnership with patients based on their individual circumstances.Healthy People Objective D-11:
Increase the proportion of adults with diabetes who have a glycosylated hemoglobin measurement at least twice a yearU.S. Target: 71.1 percent (age-adjusted)
State Target: 68.0 percent (age-adjusted)
Note
All prevalence estimates are age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.Data Sources
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]Measure Description for Hemoglobin Screening Among Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes
Definition: Age-adjusted proportion of adults aged 18 years and older with diagnosed diabetes who self-reported having a glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) measurement at least twice a year.
Numerator: Number of persons with diagnosed diabetes interviewed for the survey who reported that they have had at least two A1C measurement in the year prior to being surveyed.
Denominator: Total number of persons with diagnosed diabetes interviewed during the same survey period.
