title: Diabetes knowledge and its relationship with achieving treatment recommendations in a national sample of people with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the prevalence of knowledge of A1C, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol (ABC) levels and goals among people with diabetes, its variation by patient characteristics, and whether knowledge was associated with achieving levels of ABC control recommended for the general diabetic population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from 1,233 adults who self-reported diabetes in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants reported their last ABC level and goals specified by their physician (not validated by medical record data). Analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among participants tested in the past year, 48% stated their last A1C level. Overall, 63% stated their last blood pressure level and 22% stated their last LDL cholesterol level. Knowledge of ABC levels was greatest in non-Hispanic whites, lowest in Mexican Americans, and higher with more education and income (all P ≤ 0.02). Demographic associations were similar for those reporting physician-specified ABC goals at the American Diabetes Association-recommended levels (A1C <7%, blood pressure <130/80 mmHg, and LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dL). Nineteen percent of participants stated that their provider did not specify an A1C goal compared with 47% and 41% for blood pressure and LDL cholesterol goals, respectively. For people who self-reported A1C <7.0%, 83% had an actual A1C <7.0%. Otherwise, participant knowledge was not significantly associated with risk factor control, except for in those who knew their last LDL cholesterol level (P = 0.046 for A1C <7.0%). Results from logistic regression corroborated these findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ample opportunity exists to improve ABC knowledge. Diabetes education should include behavior change components in addition to information on ABC clinical measures.
authors.affiliation: Social and Scientific Systems, Silver Spring, MD, USA. scasagrande@s-3.com
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stark Casagrande
authors.forename: Nilka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ríos Burrows
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Geiss
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bainbridge
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fradkin
authors.forename: Catherine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cowie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin