A secondary data analysis of NHANES 1999-2000 examining disparities in diabetes complications between Black, White, and Mexican American diabetics.

Abstract

In the United States there are an estimated 18.2 million cases of diabetes, and 5.2 million of these cases are undiagnosed (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], National Diabetes Facts Sheet, 2003). Diabetes has numerous associated debilitating complications (CDC, 2003) and requires access to health care to obtain on-going treatment. Black and Mexican diabetics experience significantly more complications than White diabetics. This study examined social and health care factors that contribute to racial disparities in diabetes complications by conducting a secondary data analysis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 (NHANES, 2003). The researcher investigated racial disparities in diabetes complications among Black, White, and Mexican diabetics. There were significant differences between race/ethnicity and education level, diet, physical activity, smoking and health care utilization. Logistic regression analyses indicated that health care utilization and physical functioning limitations were significant predictors of diabetes complications among all diabetics.