Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Diseases Among Racial and Ethnic Subgroups in Adults - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2013-2021.

Although diabetes and cardiovascular disease account for substantial disease prevalence among adults in the United States, their prevalence among racial and ethnic subgroups is inadequately characterized. To fill this gap, CDC described the prevalence of diagnosed cardiometabolic diseases among U.S. adults, by disaggregated racial and ethnic subgroups, among 3,970,904 respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System during 2013-2021. Prevalence of each disease (diabetes, myocardial infarction, angina or coronary heart disease, and stroke), stratified by race and ethnicity, was based on self-reported diagnosis by a health care professional, adjusting for age, sex, and survey year. Overall, mean respondent age was 47.5 years, and 51.4% of respondents were women. Prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases among disaggregated race and ethnicity subgroups varied considerably. For example, diabetes prevalence within the aggregated non-Hispanic Asian category (11.5%) ranged from 6.3% in the Vietnamese subgroup to 15.2% in the Filipino subgroup. Prevalence of angina or coronary heart disease for the aggregated Hispanic or Latino category (3.8%) ranged from 3.1% in the Cuban subgroup to 6.3% in the Puerto Rican subgroup. Disaggregation of cardiometabolic disease prevalence data by race and ethnicity identified health disparities among subgroups that can be used to better help guide prevention programs and develop culturally relevant interventions.

Clinical performance and health equity implications of the American Diabetes Association's 2023 screening recommendation for prediabetes and diabetes.

Introduction: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends screening for prediabetes and diabetes (dysglycemia) starting at age 35, or younger than 35 years among adults with overweight or obesity and other risk factors. Diabetes risk differs by sex, race, and ethnicity, but performance of the recommendation in these sociodemographic subgroups is unknown. Methods: Nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2015-March 2020) were analyzed from 5,287 nonpregnant US adults without diagnosed diabetes. Screening eligibility was based on age, measured body mass index, and the presence of diabetes risk factors. Dysglycemia was defined by fasting plasma glucose ≥100mg/dL (≥5.6 mmol/L) or haemoglobin A1c ≥5.7% (≥39mmol/mol). The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the ADA screening criteria were examined by sex, race, and ethnicity. Results: An estimated 83.1% (95% CI=81.2-84.7) of US adults were eligible for screening according to the 2023 ADA recommendation. Overall, ADA's screening criteria exhibited high sensitivity [95.0% (95% CI=92.7-96.6)] and low specificity [27.1% (95% CI=24.5-29.9)], which did not differ by race or ethnicity. Sensitivity was higher among women [97.8% (95% CI=96.6-98.6)] than men [92.4% (95% CI=88.3-95.1)]. Racial and ethnic differences in sensitivity and specificity among men were statistically significant (P=0.04 and P=0.02, respectively). Among women, guideline performance did not differ by race and ethnicity. Discussion: The ADA screening criteria exhibited high sensitivity for all groups and was marginally higher in women than men. Racial and ethnic differences in guideline performance among men were small and unlikely to have a significant impact on health equity. Future research could examine adoption of this recommendation in practice and examine its effects on treatment and clinical outcomes by sex, race, and ethnicity.

Prevalence of anemia and associated All-Cause mortality among adults with Diabetes: The role of chronic kidney disease.

AIMS: Among adults with diabetes in the United States, we evaluated anemia prevalence by CKD status as well as the role of CKD and anemia, as potential risk factors for all-cause mortality. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we included 6,718 adult participants with prevalent diabetes from the 2003-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationally representative sample of the non-institutionalized civilian population in the United States. Cox regression models evaluated the role of anemia and CKD, alone or combined, as predictors of all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Anemia prevalence among adults with diabetes and CKD was 20%. Having anemia or CKD alone, compared with having neither condition, was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (anemia: HR = 2.10 [1.49-2.96], CKD: HR = 2.24 [1.90-2.64]). Having both conditions conferred a greater potential risk (HR = 3.41 [2.75-4.23]). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-quarter of the adult US population with diabetes and CKD also has anemia. The presence of anemia, with or without CKD, is associated with a two- to threefold increased risk of death by compared with adults who have neither condition, suggesting that anemia may be a strong predictor of death among adults with diabetes.

Impact of changes in diabetes screening guidelines on testing eligibility and potential yield among adults without diagnosed diabetes in the United States.

AIMS: Recent USPSTF and ADA guidelines expanded criteria of whom to test to identify prediabetes and diabetes. We described which Americans are eligible and report receiving glucose testing by USPSTF 2015 and 2021 as well as ADA 2003 and 2022 recommendations, and performance of each guideline. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 6,007 non-pregnant U.S. adults without diagnosed diabetes in the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. We reported proportions of adults who met each guideline's criteria for glucose testing and reported receiving glucose testing in the past three years, overall and by key population subgroups,. Defining prediabetes (FPG 100-125 mg/dL and/or HbA1c 5.7-6.4 %) or previously undiagnosed diabetes (FPG ≥ 126 mg/dL and/or HbA1c ≥ 6.5 %), we assessed sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: During 2013-2018, 76.7 million, 90.4 million, 157.7 million, and 169.5 million US adults met eligibility for glucose testing by USPSTF 2015, 2021, and ADA 2003 and 2022 guidelines, respectively. On average, 52 % of adults reported receiving glucose testing within the past 3 years. Likelihood of receiving glucose testing was lower among younger adults, men, Hispanic adults, those with less than high school completion, those living in poverty, and those without health insurance or a usual place of care than their respective counterparts. ADA recommendations were most sensitive (range: 91.0 % to 100.0 %) and least specific (range: 18.3 % to 35.3 %); USPSTF recommendations exhibited lower sensitivity (51.9 % to 66.6 %), but higher specificity (56.6 % to 74.5 %). CONCLUSIONS: An additional 12-14 million US adults are eligible for diabetes screening. USPSTF 2021 criteria provide balanced sensitivity and specificity while ADA 2022 criteria maximize sensitivity. Glucose testing does not align with guidelines and disparities remain.

Prevalence of Mental, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders Among Children and Adolescents with Diabetes, United States (2016-2019).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of diabetes and mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders in youth, we examined the magnitude of overlap between these disorders in children and adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, we calculated prevalence estimates using the 2016-2019 National Survey of Children's Health. Parents reported whether their child was currently diagnosed with diabetes or with any of the following mental, behavioral, or developmental disorders: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, learning disability, intellectual disability, developmental delay, anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, Tourette syndrome, or speech/language disorder. We present crude prevalence estimates weighted to be representative of the US child population and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Among children and adolescents (aged 2-17 years; n = 121 312), prevalence of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders varied by diabetes status (diabetes: 39.9% [30.2-50.4]; no diabetes: 20.3% [19.8-20.8]). Compared with children and adolescents without diabetes, those with diabetes had a nearly 2-fold higher prevalence of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders (aPR: 1.72 [1.31-2.27]); mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders (aPR: 1.90 [1.38-2.61]) and developmental, learning, and language disorders (aPR: 1.89 [1.35-2.66]). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that approximately 2 in 5 children and adolescents with diabetes have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. Understanding potential causal pathways may ultimately lead to future preventative strategies for mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders and diabetes in children and adolescents.

Use and Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Interventions.

INTRODUCTION: RCTs have found that type 2 diabetes can be prevented among high-risk individuals by metformin medication and evidence-based lifestyle change programs. The purpose of this study is to estimate the use of interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes in real-world clinical practice settings and determine the impact on diabetes-related clinical outcomes. METHODS: The analysis performed in 2020 used 2010‒2018 electronic health record data from 69,434 patients aged ≥18 years at high risk for type 2 diabetes in 2 health systems. The use and impact of prescribed metformin, lifestyle change program, bariatric surgery, and combinations of the 3 were examined. A subanalysis was performed to examine uptake and retention among patients referred to the National Diabetes Prevention Program. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c values declined from before to after intervention for patients who were prescribed metformin (-0.067%; p<0.001) or had bariatric surgery (-0.318%; p<0.001). Among patients referred to the National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program, the type 2 diabetes postintervention incidence proportion was 14.0% for nonattendees, 12.8% for some attendance, and 7.5% for those who attended ≥4 sessions (p<0.001). Among referred patients to the National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program, uptake was low (13% for 1‒3 sessions, 15% for ≥4 sessions), especially among males and Hispanic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that metformin and bariatric surgery may improve HbA1c levels and that participation in the National Diabetes Prevention Program may reduce type 2 diabetes incidence. Efforts to increase the use of these interventions may have positive impacts on diabetes-related health outcomes.

Differences in U.S. Rural-Urban Trends in Diabetes ABCS, 1999-2018.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in and the relationships between diabetes management and rural and urban residence. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018) data from 6,372 adults aged ≥18 years with self-reported diagnosed diabetes, we examined poor ABCS: A1C >9% (>75 mmol/mol), Blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90 mmHg, Cholesterol (non-HDL) ≥160 mg/dL (≥4.1 mmol/L), and current Smoking. We compared odds of urban versus rural residents (census tract population size ≥2,500 considered urban, otherwise rural) having poor ABCS across time (1999-2006, 2007-2012, and 2013-2018), overall and by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: During 1999-2018, the proportion of U.S. adults with diabetes residing in rural areas ranged between 15% and 19.5%. In 1999-2006, there were no statistically significant rural-urban differences in poor ABCS. However, from 1999-2006 to 2013-2018, there were greater improvements for urban adults with diabetes than for rural for BP ≥140/90 mmHg (relative odds ratio [OR] 0.8, 95% CI 0.6-0.9) and non-HDL ≥160 mg/dL (≥4.1 mmol/L) (relative OR 0.45, 0.4-0.5). These differences remained statistically significant after adjustment for race/ethnicity, education, poverty levels, and clinical characteristics. Yet, over the 1999-2018 time period, minority race/ethnicity, lower education attainment, poverty, and lack of health insurance coverage were factors associated with poorer A, B, C, or S in urban adults compared with their rural counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Over two decades, rural U.S. adults with diabetes have had less improvement in BP and cholesterol control. In addition, rural-urban differences exist across sociodemographic groups, suggesting that efforts to narrow this divide may need to address both socioeconomic and clinical aspects of care.

The Longitudinal Epidemiologic Assessment of Diabetes Risk (LEADR): Unique 1.4 M patient Electronic Health Record cohort.

BACKGROUND: The Longitudinal Epidemiologic Assessment of Diabetes Risk (LEADR) study uses a novel Electronic Health Record (EHR) data approach as a tool to assess the epidemiology of known and new risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and study how prevention interventions affect progression to and onset of T2DM. We created an electronic cohort of 1.4 million patients having had at least 4 encounters with a healthcare organization for at least 24-months; were aged ≥18 years in 2010; and had no diabetes (i.e., T1DM or T2DM) at cohort entry or in the 12 months following entry. EHR data came from patients at nine healthcare organizations across the U.S. between January 1, 2010-December 31, 2016. RESULTS: Approximately 5.9% of the LEADR cohort (82,922 patients) developed T2DM, providing opportunities to explore longitudinal clinical care, medication use, risk factor trajectories, and diagnoses for these patients, compared with patients similarly matched prior to disease onset. CONCLUSIONS: LEADR represents one of the largest EHR databases to have repurposed EHR data to examine patients' T2DM risk. This paper is first in a series demonstrating this novel approach to studying T2DM. IMPLICATIONS: Chronic conditions that often take years to develop can be studied efficiently using EHR data in a retrospective design. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: While much is already known about T2DM risk, this EHR's cohort's 160 M data points for 1.4 M people over six years, provides opportunities to investigate new unique risk factors and evaluate research hypotheses where results could modify public health practice for preventing T2DM.

Reach and Use of Diabetes Prevention Services in the United States, 2016-2017.

Importance: Coordinated efforts by national organizations in the United States to implement evidence-based lifestyle modification programs are under way to reduce type 2 diabetes (hereinafter referred to as diabetes) and cardiovascular risks. Objective: To provide a status report on the reach and use of diabetes prevention services nationally. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationally representative, population-based cross-sectional analysis of 2016 and 2017 National Health Interview Survey data was conducted from August 3, 2017, through November 15, 2018. Nonpregnant, noninstitutionalized, civilian respondents 18 years or older at high risk for diabetes, defined as those with no self-reported diabetes diagnosis but with diagnosed prediabetes or an elevated American Diabetes Association (ADA) risk score (>5), were included in the analysis. Analyses were conducted for adults with (and in sensitivity analyses, for those without) elevated body mass index. Main Outcomes and Measures: Absolute numbers and proportions of adults at high risk with elevated body mass index receiving advice about diet, physical activity guidance, referral to weight loss programs, referral to diabetes prevention programs, or any of these, and those affirming engagement in each (or any) activity in the past year were estimated. To identify where gaps exist, a prevention continuum diagram plotted existing vs desired goal achievement. Variation in risk-reducing activities by age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, insurance status, history of gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or body mass index was also examined. Results: This analysis included 50 912 respondents (representing 223.0 million adults nationally) 18 years or older (mean [SE] age, 46.1 [0.2] years; 48.1% [0.3%] male) with complete data and no self-reported diabetes diagnosis by their health care professional. Of the represented population, 36.0% (80.0 million) had either a physician diagnosis of prediabetes (17.9 million), an elevated ADA risk score (73.3 million), or both (11.3 million). Among those with diagnosed prediabetes, 73.5% (95% CI, 71.6%-75.3%) reported receiving advice and/or referrals for diabetes risk reduction from their health care professional, and, of those, 35.0% (95% CI, 30.5%-39.8%) to 75.8% (95% CI, 73.2%-78.3%) reported engaging in the respective activity or program in the past year. Half of adults with elevated ADA risk scores but no diagnosed prediabetes (50.6%; 95% CI, 49.5%-51.8%) reported receiving risk-reduction advice and/or referral, of whom 33.5% (95% CI, 30.1%-37.0%) to 75.2% (95% CI, 73.4%-76.9%) reported engaging in activities and/or programs. Participation in diabetes prevention programs was exceedingly low. Advice from a health care professional, age range from 45 to 64 years, higher educational attainment, health insurance status, gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity were associated with higher engagement in risk-reducing activities and/or programs. Conclusions and Relevance: Among adults at high risk for diabetes, major gaps in receiving advice and/or referrals and engaging in diabetes risk-reduction activities and/or programs were noted. These results suggest that risk perception, health care professional referral and communication, and insurance coverage may be key levers to increase risk-reducing behaviors in US adults. These findings provide a benchmark from which to monitor future program availability and coverage, identification of prediabetes, and referral to and retention in programs.

Life Course Socioeconomic Position, Allostatic Load, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes among African American Adults: The Jackson Heart Study, 2000-04 to 2012.

Objective: We examined whether life course socioeconomic position (SEP) was associated with incidence of type 2 diabetes (t2DM) among African Americans. Design: Secondary analysis of data from the Jackson Heart Study, 2000-04 to 2012, using Cox proportional hazard regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CI for t2DM incidence by measures of life course SEP. Participants: Sample of 4,012 nondiabetic adults aged 25-84 years at baseline. Outcome Measure: Incident t2DM identified by self-report, hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5%, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, or use of diabetes medication. Results: During 7.9 years of follow-up, 486 participants developed t2DM (incidence rate 15.2/1000 person-years, 95% CI: 13.9-16.6). Among women, but not men, childhood SEP was inversely associated with t2DM incidence (HR=.97, 95% CI: .94-.99) but was no longer associated with adjustment for adult SEP or t2DM risk factors. Upward SEP mobility increased the hazard for t2DM incidence (adjusted HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.05-2.21) among women only. Life course allostatic load (AL) did not explain the SEP-t2DM association in either sex. Conclusions: Childhood SEP and upward social mobility may influence t2DM incidence in African American women but not in men.

Association of Higher Consumption of Foods Derived From Subsidized Commodities With Adverse Cardiometabolic Risk Among US Adults.

IMPORTANCE: Food subsidies are designed to enhance food availability, but whether they promote cardiometabolic health is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether higher consumption of foods derived from subsidized food commodities is associated with adverse cardiometabolic risk among US adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2001 to 2006. Our final analysis was performed in January 2016. Participants were 10 308 nonpregnant adults 18 to 64 years old in the general community. EXPOSURE: From a single day of 24-hour dietary recall in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we calculated an individual-level subsidy score that estimated an individual's consumption of subsidized food commodities as a percentage of total caloric intake. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcomes were body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), abdominal adiposity, C-reactive protein level, blood pressure, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and glycemia. RESULTS: Among 10 308 participants, the mean (SD) age was 40.2 (0.3) years, and a mean (SD) of 50.5% (0.5%) were male. Overall, 56.2% of calories consumed were from the major subsidized food commodities. United States adults in the highest quartile of the subsidy score (compared with the lowest) had increased probabilities of having a body mass index of at least 30 (prevalence ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.23-1.52), a ratio of waist circumference to height of at least 0.60 (prevalence ratio, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.25-1.59), a C-reactive protein level of at least 0.32 mg/dL (prevalence ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.19-1.51), an elevated non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (prevalence ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25), and dysglycemia (prevalence ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.40). There was no statistically significant association between the subsidy score and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among US adults, higher consumption of calories from subsidized food commodities was associated with a greater probability of some cardiometabolic risks. Better alignment of agricultural and nutritional policies may potentially improve population health.

The contribution of subsidized food commodities to total energy intake among US adults.

OBJECTIVE: The contribution of subsidized food commodities to total food consumption is unknown. We estimated the proportion of individual energy intake from food commodities receiving the largest subsidies from 1995 to 2010 (corn, soyabeans, wheat, rice, sorghum, dairy and livestock). DESIGN: Integrating information from three federal databases (MyPyramid Equivalents, Food Intakes Converted to Retail Commodities, and What We Eat in America) with data from the 2001-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, we computed a Subsidy Score representing the percentage of total energy intake from subsidized commodities. We examined the score's distribution and the probability of having a 'high' (≥70th percentile) v. 'low' (≤30th percentile) score, across the population and subgroups, using multivariate logistic regression. SETTING: Community-dwelling adults in the USA. SUBJECTS: Participants (n 11 811) aged 18-64 years. RESULTS: Median Subsidy Score was 56·7 % (interquartile range 47·2-65·4 %). Younger, less educated, poorer, and Mexican Americans had higher scores. After controlling for covariates, age, education and income remained independently associated with the score: compared with individuals aged 55-64 years, individuals aged 18-24 years had a 50 % higher probability of having a high score (P<0·0001). Individuals reporting less than high-school education had 21 % higher probability of having a high score than individuals reporting college completion or higher (P=0·003); individuals in the lowest tertile of income had an 11 % higher probability of having a high score compared with individuals in the highest tertile (P=0·02). CONCLUSIONS: Over 50 % of energy in US diets is derived from federally subsidized commodities.

Survival on dialysis among American Indians and Alaska Natives with diabetes in the United States, 1995-2010.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed survival in American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) with end-stage renal disease attributed to diabetes who initiated hemodialysis between 1995 and 2009. METHODS: Follow-up extended from the first date of dialysis in the United States Renal Data System until December 31, 2010, kidney transplantation, or death. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to compute survival on dialysis by age and race/ethnicity and Cox regression analysis to compute adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: Our study included 510,666 persons-48% Whites, 2% AI/AN persons, and 50% others. Median follow-up was 2.2 years (interquartile range = 1.1-4.1 years). At any age, AI/AN persons survived longer on hemodialysis than Whites; this finding persisted after adjusting for baseline differences. Among AI/AN individuals, those with full Indian blood ancestry had the lowest adjusted risk of death compared with Whites (HR = 0.58; 95% confidence interval = 0.55, 0.61). The risk increased with declining proportion of AI/AN ancestry. CONCLUSIONS: Survival on dialysis was better among AI/AN than White persons with diabetes. Among AI/AN persons, the inverse relationship between risk of death and level of AI/AN ancestry suggested that cultural or hereditary factors played a role in survival.

Disparities in eye care utilization among the United States adults with visual impairment: findings from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system 2006-2009.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of annual eye care among visually impaired United States residents aged 40 years or older, by state, race/ethnicity, education, and annual income. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: In analyses of 2006-2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 21 states, we used multivariate regression to estimate the state-level prevalence of yearly eye doctor visit in the study population by race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and other), annual income (≥$35,000 and <$35,000), and education (< high school, high school, and > high school). RESULTS: The age-adjusted state-level prevalence of yearly eye doctor visits ranged from 48% (Missouri) to 69% (Maryland). In Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, and North Carolina, the prevalence was significantly higher among respondents with more than a high school education than among those with a high school education or less (P < .05). The prevalence was positively associated with annual income levels in Alabama, Georgia, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and West Virginia and negatively associated with annual income levels in Massachusetts. After controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and income, we also found significant disparities in the prevalence of yearly eye doctor visits among states. CONCLUSION: Among visually impaired US residents aged 40 or older, the prevalence of yearly eye examinations varied significantly by race/ethnicity, income, and education, both overall and within states. Continued and possibly enhanced collection of eye care utilization data, such as we analyzed here, may help states address disparities in vision health and identify population groups most in need of intervention programs.

Characteristics associated with poor glycemic control among adults with self-reported diagnosed diabetes--National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2007-2010.

Nationally representative estimates indicate that 18.8 million adults in the United States have received a diagnosis with diabetes mellitus. When glycemic control is not optimized, diabetes imposes additional burdensome care requirements, health-care costs, and high risk of disabling complications, and this has been especially evident in socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority populations. For example, higher levels of glycated hemoglobin (A1c) have been associated with increased risk of diabetic retinopathy, increased risk of chronic kidney disease, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Reducing A1c levels through combined clinical and effective self-management has demonstrated reduced risk for microvascular complications. Although the most appropriate target A1c levels to achieve optimal health impact might vary among persons, the majority of adults with diabetes will benefit from reduction of A1c levels to ≤7%; targets for patients with a history of severe hypoglycemia, or with limited life expectancy, or with advanced complications, or with certain comorbid conditions might be higher. Nevertheless, an A1c level of 9% constitutes a clearly modifiable, high level of risk that few, if any, persons with diabetes should be exposed to. Accordingly, the Healthy People 2020 objectives include a 10% reduction in the proportion of the diabetes population that has poor glycemic control (A1c >9%) as a target.