U.S. Adults Making Progress in Fighting Diabetes, RTI-CDC Study Shows

Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Progress is “finally” being made among adults who are fighting diabetes, a new study from RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control has found.

Based on data from surveys of data as recent as 2004, the researchers report that adults are controlling better blood glucose levels. In particular, results of tests known as A1C that measure blood glucose control over the past three months have improved, the study found.

"These data suggest that efforts to control blood glucose levels are finally starting to have a measurable effect at the national level, and that is an encouraging success," said Thomas Hoerger, lead author of the study at RTI International.

Results of the study were published in the January issue of Diabetes Care.

More than 20 million Americans suffer from diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

If blood glucose levels are controlled, diabetes complications including kidney disease, blindness and the need to amputate diseased limbs can be prevented or delayed.

Earlier studies had shown little improvement among adults afflicted with diabetes, RTI noted.

The new study includes data fro 1999-2000, 2001-2002 and 2003-2004. The CDC paid for the study.

However, despite the encouraging news, work remains to be done, Hoerger said.

"At the same time, there is still plenty of room for further improvement," Hoerger said. "The results showed A1C levels and rates of suboptimal control are still especially high in some individuals and in some demographic groups."

Another study in the same issue of Diabetes Care also reported improvements, RTI said.

In addition to Hoerger, other authors of the RTI study were Joel Segel of RTI and CDC researchers Edward Gregg and Jinan Saaddine.