title: Diabetes Self-Management Behaviors, Medical Care, Glycemic Control, and Self-Rated Health in U.S. Men by Race/Ethnicity.
abstract: Men, particularly minorities, have higher rates of diabetes as compared with their counterparts. Ongoing diabetes self-management education and support by specialists are essential components to prevent the risk of complications such as kidney disease, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological impairments. Diabetes self-management behaviors, in particular, as diet and physical activity, have been associated with glycemic control in the literature. Recommended medical care for diabetes may differ by race/ethnicity. This study examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2007 to 2010 for men with diabetes (N = 646) from four racial/ethnic groups: Mexican Americans, other Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites. Men with adequate dietary fiber intake had higher odds of glycemic control (odds ratio = 4.31, confidence interval [1.82, 10.20]), independent of race/ethnicity. There were racial/ethnic differences in reporting seeing a diabetes specialist. Non-Hispanic Blacks had the highest odds of reporting ever seeing a diabetes specialist (84.9%) followed by White non-Hispanics (74.7%), whereas Hispanics reported the lowest proportions (55.2% Mexican Americans and 62.1% other Hispanics). Men seeing a diabetes specialist had the lowest odds of glycemic control (odds ratio = 0.54, confidence interval [0.30, 0.96]). The results of this study suggest that diabetes education counseling may be selectively given to patients who are not in glycemic control. These findings indicate the need for examining referral systems and quality of diabetes care. Future studies should assess the effectiveness of patient-centered medical care provided by a diabetes specialist with consideration of sociodemographics, in particular, race/ethnicity and gender.
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Joan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Kelitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA huffmanf@fiu.edu.
authors.forename: Fatma G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Huffman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology*; D012648:Self Care; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents
keywords: diabetes; diabetes self-management; health promotion; medical care; race/ethnicity