title: Factors related to perceived diabetes control are not related to actual glucose control for minority patients with diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine variables associated with perceived diabetes control compared with an objective measure of glucose control (A1C).
  
  
  METHODS
  Beliefs about diabetes were assessed among 334 individuals with diabetes living in a primarily low-income, minority, urban neighborhood. Regression analyses tested associations between disease beliefs and both participants' perceptions of control and actual control (A1C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Poorer perceived diabetes control was associated with perceiving a greater impact of diabetes, greater depressive symptoms, not following a diabetic diet, A1C, and a trend toward less exercise. Variables associated with better actual control (A1C) included higher BMI, older age, and not using insulin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' perceptions of their diabetes control are informed by subjective diabetes cues (e.g., perceived impact of diabetes and adherence to a diabetic diet), which are not related to A1C. Clinicians should take into account what cues patients are using to assess their diabetes control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA. lisa.mcandrew@va.gov
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: McAndrew
authors.forename: Carol R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: Kristie J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lancaster
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leventhal
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose