Health Indicator Report of Hemoglobin Screening Among Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes
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])
Glycosylated Hemoglobin Screening Rate among Adults Aged 18+ with Diagnosed Diabetes by County, New Jersey, 2018-2021
Notes
*2019 data is not included in the average estimated prevalence. No data is available for 2019. All prevalence estimates are age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.Data Source
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]Data Interpretation Issues
Starting in 2011, BRFSS protocol requires that the NJBRFS incorporate a fixed quota of interviews from cell phone respondents along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting or "raking". The new weighting methodology incorporates additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting process. These methodological changes were implemented to account for the underrepresentation of certain demographic groups in the land line sample (which resulted in part from the increasing number of U.S. households without land line phones). Comparisons between 2011 and prior years should therefore be made with caution. (More details about these changes can be found at [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6122a3.htm].)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.Healthy People Objective: Increase the proportion of adults with diabetes who have a glycosylated hemoglobin measurement at least twice a year
U.S. Target: 71.1 percent (age-adjusted)State Target: 73.7 percent (age-adjusted)
Other Objectives
'''Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective DM-4''': Increase the age-adjusted proportion of adults with diabetes who have a glycosylated hemoglobin measurement (AC1) at least twice a year to 73.7% for the total population, 77.9% among Whites, 73.0% among Blacks, 56.3% among Hispanics, and 87.3% among Asians.How Are We Doing?
In 2021, 71.7% of New Jersey adults with diagnosed diabetes had at least two glycosylated hemoglobin measurements a year. Hispanics have a lower screening rate (60.8%) compared to Asians (86.7%), Whites (77.8%), and Blacks (66.5%).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.
Page Content Updated On 08/14/2018,
Published on 06/29/2023
