Health care utilization among U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes, 2013

Data from the National Health Interview Survey, 2013. Nine percent of adults aged 18 and over have diagnosed diabetes, and more than 8 in 10 of these adults had contact with a doctor or health care professional in the past 6 months. The percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes who were taking any medication to control their glucose levels increased with age. The percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes who had contact with an eye or foot care specialist in the past 12 months increased with age. Among adults with diagnosed diabetes, those aged 18-39 were the least likely to have had their blood pressure or blood cholesterol checked by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional during the past 12 months. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that affects 1 in 10 adults in the United States (1). Diabetes can affect multiple organs and lead to serious health complications (2). Ongoing medical care is recommended for persons of any age who have diabetes in order to manage levels of glucose, obtain preventive care services, and treat diabetes-related complications (2,3). This report describes differences by age in the utilization of selected medical care services among adults aged 18 and over with diagnosed diabetes, based on data from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).