Diabetes preventive-care practices in managed-care organizations--Rhode Island, 1995-1996

Diabetes mellitus affects 8% of the U.S. adult population and can lead to debilitating complications, including blindness, renal failure, cardiovascular disease, mobility impairment, and lower extremity amputation. Preventive care such as glycemic control and regular foot and eye examinations are recommended because of their efficacy in reducing diabetes-related complications. In the United States, managed care is an important provider of medical services for persons with diabetes. Persons with diabetes receiving care from a major health-maintenance organization (HMO) or a major preferred provider organization (PPO) in Rhode Island were surveyed in 1995 and 1996 to assess the level of care for three recommended preventive-care practices for diabetes: an annual dilated eye examination, semi-annual foot examination, and annual glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) assessment. This report summarizes the findings from this survey, which indicated that 87% of persons with diabetes received eye examinations and approximately 55% received semi-annual foot examinations and annual GHb assessments.