Diabetes Care Research Articles

Perspectives of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes on barriers to diabetes care: a qualitative study

Perspectives of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes on barriers to diabetes care: a qualitative study

Development of a Diabetes Navigator Toolkit to Support Diabetes Technology Uptake: The IMPACT Toolkit

Advanced diabetes technologies (ADTs), including continuous glucose monitoring devices, insulin pumps, and automated insulin delivery systems, improve glycemic control in type 1 diabetes but are underutilized, particularly in minority and underserved populations. This article reports on a qualitative study to develop a diabetes toolkit. Participants identified barriers to the use of ADTs and proposed solutions to these barriers, which were then incorporated into a diabetes toolkit designed for use by a diabetes navigator or other diabetes care team members seeking to improve the uptake and sustained use of ADTs.

Assessing Current Knowledge of Hearing Impairment With Diabetes by Surveying Providers With CBDCE Certification.

The purpose of this study was to assess current knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding hearing impairment and screening referrals in patients with diabetes among providers who have a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CBDCE) Certification. A cross-sectional survey created through Qualtrics was emailed to health care providers in the United States with CDCES certification. Providers responded regarding knowledge and importance of hearing impairment compared to other diabetes complications, when they would refer a patient to an audiologist, the percentage of patients referred, and awareness of over-the-counter hearing aids. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all questionnaire items. One thousand four hundred and ninety-five CDCES providers completed the survey. Participants selected the most common conditions associated with diabetes as kidney dysfunction (96.7%), retinopathy (96.5%), obesity (95.6%), and foot infection (94.5%); 44.5% chose hearing impairment. Over 60% of providers were not familiar with how to refer patients to an audiologist and acknowledged being unfamiliar with recommended screening frequency as the most common barrier. Most providers had referred fewer than 20% of patients to an audiologist. Over half of providers were not aware of over-the-counter hearing aids. Among a national sample of health care providers with comprehensive knowledge in diabetes care, many providers do not associate hearing impairment with diabetes and rate other microvascular complications of higher importance.

Maternal factors increase risk of orofacial cleft: a meta-analysis.

Orofacial clefts are among the most prevalent birth defects, with severe medical and psychosocial consequences. Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL ± P) and cleft palate only (CPO) affect on average nearly 1/700 births worldwide. The cause of most non-syndromic cases is unknown. Maternal factors and disorders are assumed to modify the risk of orofacial clefting. In the present study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the effects of maternal underweight, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, as well as smoking, and alcohol consumption on the development of orofacial clefts. As CL ± CP and CPO have distinct pathogenetic backgrounds, these cleft subtypes were assessed separately. Altogether, 5,830 studies were identified and 64 of them met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Obesity significantly elevated the odds of clefting (OR = 1.28, CI:1.08-1.51) (ORCL±CP = 1.23, CI:1.01-1.50; ORCPO = 1.31, CI:0.97-1.77). Maternal underweight also significantly increased the odds of clefting (OR = 1.21 CI:1.06-1.38). In mothers with type 1 diabetes, the odds of cleft development were significantly elevated (OR = 1,75, CI:1.45-2.12). Essential hypertension was also associated with higher odds of developing cleft (OR = 1.55, CI:1.18-2.03). Smoking during pregnancy significantly elevated the odds of cleft development (OR = 1.55, CI:1.34-1.79) (ORCL±CP = 1.58, CI:1.36-1.83; ORCPO = 1.50, CI:1.15-1.96). Passive smoking was even more damaging than active tobacco use, but alcohol consumption had no effect. In conclusion, this study clearly showed the importance of maintaining normal maternal body weight and emphasized the importance of hypertension and type 1 diabetes care in the first months of pregnancy. It also highlighted similarnegative effects of passive and active smoking, while alcohol consumption did not seem to be a significant risk factor for cleft development. However, there is a complete lack of available studies on the interactions of these factors, which is an essential direction for improving prevention.

Simultaneous and Rapid Detection of Glucose and Insulin: Coupling Enzymatic and Aptamer-Based Assays.

Diabetes management demands precise monitoring of key biomarkers, particularly insulin (I) and glucose (G). Herein, we present a bioelectronic chip device that enables the simultaneous detection of I and G in biofluids within 2 min. This dual biosensor chip integrates aptamer-based insulin sensing with enzymatic glucose detection on a single platform, employing a four-electrode sensor chip. The insulin voltammetric sensor employs a G-quadraplex methylene-blue-modified aptamer, while the amperometric biocatalytic glucose sensor utilizes a second-generation mediator-based approach. Simultaneous reagent-less sensing of I and G has been achieved by addressing key challenges. These include combining different surface chemistries, assay formats, and detection principles at closely spaced working electrodes and the substantially different concentration levels of the I and G targets. An attractive analytical performance, with no apparent crosstalk, is demonstrated for the simultaneous detection of millimolar G concentrations and picomolar I concentrations in single microliter serum or saliva sample droplets. This dual biosensor offers rapid, cost-effective, and reliable monitoring, addressing the unmet need for integrated multiplexed diabetes biomarker detection in decentralized settings. Such integration of enzymatic and aptamer-based bioassays could greatly expand the scope of decentralized testing in healthcare beyond diabetes care.

Can Digital Technology Revolutionize Continuous Education in Diabetes Care?

Rapid technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, wearable technologies, and telehealth with remote monitoring, are transforming continuous education for health care providers (HCPs) in diabetes management. These technologies improve patient care and necessitate innovative educational approaches to prepare HCPs for clinical integration. Digital education offers real-time, scalable, and cost-effective solutions, especially in areas with health care workforce shortages. However, the effect of digital education on HCPs' knowledge, skills, attitudes, and patient outcomes remains under-researched and necessitates further study. As technologies advance, achieving precision in diabetes continuous education becomes feasible. The 2024 ADA Standards of Care emphasize early adoption of advanced technologies and proficiency among HCPs. This commentary explores transformative trends, discussing limitations and proposing solutions to revolutionize continuous education in diabetes care.

Short-Term Impact of Digital Mental Health Interventions on Psychological Well-Being and Blood Sugar Control in Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Riyadh

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) management is complicated by psychological factors, yet mental health interventions are not routinely integrated into diabetes care. This study investigated the impact of a digital mental health intervention on psychological well-being and glycemic control in T2D patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 120 T2D patients divided into intervention (n = 60) and control (n = 60) groups. The intervention group received a one-month digital mental health intervention alongside standard care. Psychological well-being (PHQ-9, GAD-7, and DDS) and glycemic control (HbA1c) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in HbA1c levels (−0.5%, p = 0.032), PHQ-9 (−3.1, p = 0.001), GAD-7 (−2.8, p = 0.006), and DDS (−7.7, p = 0.012) scores compared to the control group. Strong correlations were observed between psychological improvements and HbA1c reductions. Higher engagement with the digital platform was associated with greater improvements in both psychological and glycemic outcomes. Conclusions: Integrating digital mental health interventions into T2D care can significantly improve both psychological well-being and glycemic control. These findings support a more holistic approach to diabetes management that addresses both mental and physical health aspects.

Innovating Diabetes Care in Pregnancy: Do group care models improve outcomes and equity?

Shared medical appointments (SMAs) for diabetes and group prenatal care (GPC) for pregnant patients, have emerged as innovative care delivery models. They have the potential to transform diabetes care by overcoming many of the time limitations of traditional one-on-one clinical visits. There is compelling evidence that SMAs improve glycemic control for non-pregnant patients with diabetes, GPC reduces Black/White health disparities in preterm birth, and Diabetes Group Prenatal Care increase postpartum glucose tolerance test uptake among patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. GPC models standout as one of few interventions that reduce racial health disparities, which we hypothesize occurs because they inadvertently exert their effect on both the patient and clinician through a 20+ hour meaningful shared experience. This Perspective explores the evidence for SMA and GPC in diabetes and pregnancy, theoretical underpinnings of the models, their potential to promote more equitable care, and future directions from my Perspective, as a high-risk obstetrician and 2019 ADA Pathway Accelerator award recipient.

How do patients and healthcare professionals experience foot examinations in diabetes care? - A randomised controlled study of digital foot examinations versus traditional foot examinations.

Digital solutions in healthcare can facilitate and improve care. However, the experiences and the usefulness of using either digital foot examinations or traditional foot examinations need to be evaluated. The aims of the study were to evaluate: 1) The differences in patient experiences, having their foot examined supported by the Clinical Decision Support System as compared with having their foot examined in traditional practice, 2) How healthcare professionals, by using the digital tool, experienced the routine compared with performing the foot examination as in traditional practice. Of a total of 141 patients, 100 patients with diabetes were single-blind digitally randomised to one of two parallel arms: having their foot examined by a healthcare professional using a digital tool (n = 47) or having their foot examined as in traditional practice (n = 53) at the Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Patients filled in a modified version of the National Patient Survey and the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey at study end. Two healthcare professionals, working at a Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, answered surveys regarding the interaction between the patient and the certified prosthetist and orthotist. Patients, aged 66 ± 13 years, perceived a high level of satisfaction with the service at the department, regardless of the method used. No significant differences between groups were found when evaluated by 27 questions in the National Patient Survey or by the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey, with scores of 67.17 ± 12.18 vs. 66.35 ± 16.52 (p = 0.78) for the intervention and control group respectively. For the same patient that healthcare professionals foot examined, the risk class was fully obtained when the risk to develop foot ulcers was assessed by using the digital tool, whereas only 2% of the patients were classified when foot assessed in traditional practice. Regardless of the method used for the foot examination, patients perceived a high level of satisfaction with the services at the Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics. All the patients were risk classified in the intervention group. The healthcare professionals found that, by using the Clinical Decision Support System, the foot examination was structured and followed clinical guidelines. Furthermore, the documentation in the electronic health record was thorough, even though further improvements, such as integration with co-existing health record systems, were requested. Clinical Trials NCT03088566 , Registered 23 March 2017.

A microenvironment-modulating dressing with proliferative degradants for the healing of diabetic wounds.

Diabetic wounds are usually entangled in a disorganized and self-perpetuating microenvironment and accompanied by a prolonged delay in tissue repair. Sustained and coordinated microenvironment regulation and tissue regeneration are key to the healing process of diabetic wounds, yet they continue to pose a formidable challenge. Here we report a rational double-layered dressing design based on chitosan and a degradable conjugated polymer polydiacetylene, poly(deca-4,6-diynedioic acid) (PDDA), that can meet this intricate requirement. With an alternating ene-yne backbone, PDDA degrades when reacting with various types of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and more importantly, generates proliferative succinic acid as a major degradant. Inheriting from PDDA, the developed PDDA-chitosan double layer dressing (PCD) can eliminate ROS in the microenvironment of diabetic wounds, alleviate inflammation, and downregulate gene expression of innate immune receptors. PCD degradation also triggers simultaneous release of succinic acid in a sustainable manner, enabling long-term promotion on tissue regeneration. We have validated the biocompatibility and excellent performance of PCD in expediting the wound healing on both diabetic mouse and porcine models, which underscores the significant translational potential of this microenvironment-modulating, growth-promoting wound dressing in diabetic wounds care.

Truncated Albumins as Novel Surrogate Biomarkers in Diabetes Therapy: Epiphenomena and Potential Clinical Applications.

Aims/Hypothesis: Among various albumin posttranslational modifications (PTMs), N- and C-terminal truncations (HSA-DA and HSA-L) have also shown biomarker potential in disease states. We examined albumin truncation longitudinal trends and correlations during diabetes therapy toward possible future clinical applications. Methods: In a preliminary longitudinal therapy investigation, mass spectrometry was employed to track PTMs of human serum albumin (HSA), including glycation (GA), cysteinylation (CA or HNA1; reversible), di/trioxidation (OA or HNA2; irreversible), and truncation (TA). These modifications were correlated with ongoing therapy in four distinct subject groups: type 1 diabetes (T1DM), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), prediabetes-obesity (PDOB), and healthy controls (NORM), observed over a follow-up period extending up to 280 days. Results: Diabetes was associated with significant reduction ("deficiency") of measured albumin truncations (For HSA-DA: T2DM = 0.32 ± 0.3%, p = 2E-08; T1DM = 1.02 ± 0.4%, p = 3E-05; PDOB = 1.61 ± 0.2%, p = 0.004; compared to NORM = 2.08 ± 0.2%). Albumin truncation reduction was more striking in T2DM (HSA-DA: T2DM vs. T1DM: p = 0.004). Improvements in glycemic control and decrease of albumin glycation during diabetes therapy were associated with concomitant increase of albumin truncations toward the "healthy" normal ranges, and vice versa ("mirror image" trends). Accordingly, albumin truncation correlated inversely with albumin glycation (HSA-DA vs. GA: R = -0.53, p = 1E-09). Conclusions: The "epiphenomenon" of albumin truncation (reflecting the severity of mean hyperglycemia and also insulin resistance) can possibly provide novel, sensitive, and complementary biomarkers (e.g., via simpler HSA-DA peptide fragment immunoassays) to monitor efficacy of diabetes therapy and also progression from "healthy" to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, highlighting potential diagnostic and prognostic utility in clinical diabetes care.

Type 2 diabetes pathway-specific polygenic risk scores elucidate heterogeneity in clinical presentation, disease progression and diabetic complications in 18,217 Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a complex and heterogeneous disease and the aetiological components underlying the heterogeneity remain unclear in the Chinese and East Asian population. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether specific pathophysiological pathways drive the clinical heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes. We employed newly developed type 2 diabetes hard-clustering and soft-clustering pathway-specific polygenic risk scores (psPRSs) to characterise individual genetic susceptibility to pathophysiological pathways implicated in type 2 diabetes in 18,217 Chinese patients from Hong Kong. The 'total' type 2 diabetes polygenic risk score (PRS) was summed by genome-wide significant type 2 diabetes signals (n=1289). We examined the associations between psPRSs and cardiometabolic profile, age of onset, two glycaemic deterioration outcomes (clinical requirement of insulin treatment, defined by two consecutive HbA1c values ≥69 mmol/mol [8.5%] more than 3 months apart during treatment with two or more oral glucose-lowering drugs, and insulin initiation), three renal (albuminuria, end-stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease) outcomes and five cardiovascular outcomes. Although most psPRSs and total type 2 diabetes PRS were associated with an earlier and younger onset of type 2 diabetes, the psPRSs showed distinct associations with clinical outcomes. In particular, individuals with normal weight showed higher psPRSs for beta cell dysfunction and lipodystrophy than those who were overweight. The psPRSs for obesity were associated with faster progression to clinical requirement of insulin treatment (adjusted HR [95% CI] 1.09 [1.05, 1.13], p<0.0001), end-stage renal disease (1.10 [1.04, 1.16], p=0.0007) and CVD (1.10 [1.05, 1.16], p<0.0001) while the psPRSs for beta cell dysfunction were associated with reduced incident end-stage renal disease (0.90 [0.85, 0.95], p=0.0001) and heart failure (0.83 [0.73, 0.93], p=0.0011). Major findings remained significant after adjusting for a set of clinical variables. Beta cell dysfunction and lipodystrophy could be the driving pathological pathways in type 2 diabetes in individuals with normal weight. Genetic risks of beta cell dysfunction and obesity represent two major genetic drivers of type 2 diabetes heterogeneity in disease progression and diabetic complications, which are shared across ancestry groups. Type 2 diabetes psPRSs may help inform patient stratification according to aetiology and guide precision diabetes care.

Diabetes On Track: Redesigning Diabetes Management in Rural Primary Care

OBJECTIVE Diabetes remains an intractable public health problem, particularly in rural communities. The Diabetes On Track initiative returns control of designing and implementing strategies to improve diabetes care delivery systems to the local clinics and community partners. This article reports on protocol development and the first 18 months of the Diabetes On Track project within the health care setting. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using a rapid-cycling quality improvement approach, the research team partnered with two rural clinics. Clinics completed a strengths and needs assessment before being offered a menu of possible strategies to implement. Clinics worked with the research team to implement, refine, and adapt these initial interventions and develop further strategies based on local data that were continually collected and shared. Six core indicators were established as primary outcome measures. Process measures were established based on the strategies chosen. RESULTS Both clinics decided to create a registered nurse health coach position to provide diabetes education to individuals with or at risk for developing diabetes. Both clinics also chose to implement a physician dashboard highlighting diabetes-related indicators so clinicians could track panel improvement over time. Other interventions included using a prediabetes outreach list and taking advantage of professional development opportunities, including a diabetes-focused Project ECHO series. CONCLUSION Improving diabetes care in rural communities is a challenge, and novel solutions are needed, with a focus on sustainability. The Diabetes On Track initiative is showing promising results, allowing primary care clinics to use community knowledge and data to redesign effective diabetes care delivery systems.

Association between within-target risk factors and life expectancy free from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia in individuals with type 2 diabetes in New Zealand between 1994 and 2018: a multi-ethnic cohort study

BackgroundThe extent to which type 2 diabetes (T2D) reduces life expectancy depends on the risk of complications. We aimed to characterise the relationship between risk factors for diabetes complications and life expectancy, in individuals with T2D, free from major chronic disease, in a regional database linked with national New Zealand health databases.MethodsA prospective cohort study design was employed, analysing data from individuals with T2D drawn from the comprehensive Diabetes Care Support Service database (1994–2018). Participants with known values for all five within-target risk factors (WTRF +) including blood pressure, glycaemia, and LDL cholesterol, alongside being non-smoking with normal renal function at baseline, were included. Life expectancy free from cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and dementia at age 50 years was estimated using multistate life tables, adjusting for demographics and clinical metrics.ResultsWomen and men with no WTRF + at enrolment had a life expectancy free from CVD, cancer, or dementia of 13.1 (95% confidence interval: 9.1–19.0) and 11.2 (6.7–18.6) years, respectively. For the most socioeconomically deprived groups or Māori with no WTRF + at baseline, life expectancies were markedly lower. Life expectancies were 23.7 (18.9–29.7) years for women and 23.2 years (17.2–31.4) years for men with four or five WTRF + at baseline, respectively. While an increasing number of WTRF + at baseline was significantly associated with improved outcomes in men and certain subgroups (e.g. Other ethnicity group), this trend was not statistically significant for women overall or in most subgroups.ConclusionsHaving multiple WTRF + at baseline is associated with a considerable increase in life expectancy free from major chronic disease among individuals with T2D. This highlights the importance of lifestyle and clinical interventions in the management of T2D and in the prevention and management of associated chronic conditions.

Why I Became a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist?

Why I Became a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist?

Usage of table salt and risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality among patients with diabetes: a national population-based cohort study

BackgroundA lower dietary sodium intake has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the general population. However, the evidence is less clear in diabetic patients. The study aims to investigate whether the usage of table salt is associated with all-cause and CVD mortality among individuals with diabetes.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, participants with diabetes from the U.S. National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2018 were included. Weighted linear regression models were employed to assess the association between the usage of table salt and dietary sodium intake. Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association between the usage of table salt and all-cause and CVD mortality.ResultsThis cohort study included data from 6,258 participants in analysis. During 44,035 person-years of follow-up, 1,504 deaths from all-causes and 427 from CVD were documented. Not using table salt was significantly associated with lower dietary sodium intake, with a β of -192.60 (95% CI, -297.01 to -88.18) mg. A higher risk of all-cause and CVD mortality was observed in the group of participants not using table salt among patients with diabetes. Compared with participants using table salt, the hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 1.18 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.35), and for CVD were 1.48 (95 CI, 1.16 to 1.90) for participants not using table salt. The subgroup analysis revealed a significantly stronger link between the usage of table salt and all-cause mortality in participants with CVD (P for interaction = 0.004).ConclusionsThis study indicated that not using table salt was associated with a lower dietary sodium intake, and an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality among individuals with diabetes. Interventional studies are needed to determine more beneficial relevant approaches to dietary management in diabetes care.

The Role of the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist in Pediatric Diabetes - Type 1 Diabetes: ADCES Practice Paper

The Role of the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist in Pediatric Diabetes - Type 1 Diabetes: ADCES Practice Paper

Interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with type 2 diabetes that modify its management and cardiometabolic risk factors: asystematic review.

To review studies of interventions for reducing the impact of type 2 diabetes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The primary aim was to review and summarise the characteristics and findings of the interventions. The secondary aims were to assess their effects on diabetes and cardiometabolic risk factors, and the proportions of people with type 2 diabetes who achieved therapeutic targets with each intervention. We searched eight electronic databases for publications of studies including Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years or older with diagnoses of type 2 diabetes, describing one or more diabetes interventions, and published in English during 1 January 2000 - 31 December 2020. Reference lists in the assessed articles were checked for further relevant publications. MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science (Clarivate), the Cochrane Library, Global Health (EBSCO), Indigenous Collection and Indigenous Australia (Informit), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO-ICTRP). The database searches yielded 1424 unique records; after screening by title and abstract, the full text of 55 potentially relevant articles were screened, of which seventeen met our eligibility criteria: eleven cohort studies (seven retrospective audits and four prospective studies), three randomised controlled trials, and three observational, non-randomised follow-up studies. Twelve publications reported site-based (Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health service or diabetes clinic) rather than individual-based diabetes interventions. Interventions with statistically significant effects on mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, a 5-day diabetes self-management camp, treatment of Strongyloides stercoralis infections, community-based health worker-led management, point-of-care testing, and self-management approaches. Few interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with type 2 diabetes have been reported in peer-reviewed publications. Improving diabetes care services resulted in larger proportions of people achieving therapeutic HbA1c targets. Outcomes were better when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities were involved at all levels of an intervention. High quality studies of holistic, culturally safe and accessible interventions should be the focus of research.

Investigating health professionals' perspectives and experiences of food security-related conversations in diabetes care.

Household food insecurity (FI) is a serious public health concern and disproportionately affects people living with chronic health conditions, undermining diabetes self-management. Little is known about healthcare professionals' (HCPs) experiences of supporting people affected by diabetes and FI, and no national guidelines incorporate consideration of FI within UK diabetes care. A qualitative study of NHS HCPs' consideration of FI within diabetes care, and the extent to which it informs their clinical practice, was undertaken. Fifteen HCPs providing self-management support to people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in a Scottish Health Board took part in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using a thematic framework approach informed by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour (COM-B) model of behaviour change. Although the potential impact of FI on diabetes self-management was recognised, this important consideration was not currently core to their clinical practice. Enablers and barriers identified included: personal feelings about raising the issue, lack of knowledge of available resources, the patient-practitioner relationship, and the wider socioeconomic environment. Practical suggestions to support HCPs included: specific training on communication, access to patient support information, use of a screening tool to assess FI, and building NHS-third sector links. Our findings provide insight into cognitive factors, emotional processes and environmental systems impacting on HCPs' practice supporting individuals with diabetes and FI. Research with affected patients is needed to gain a better understanding of how to provide support within NHS settings.

Changes in diabetes care and management practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We examined changes in diabetes care and management practices before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Population-based data regarding four diabetes-related healthcare engagement and four self-management indicators were obtained from adults with diabetes surveyed in 19 US States and Washington DC through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Using logistic regression, we estimated changes in the prevalence of each indicator, overall and by sociodemographic subgroups in 2019 (before the pandemic) and 2021 (during the pandemic). Between 2019 and 2021, the prevalence of biannual HbA1c tests reduced by 2.6 percentage points (pp; 95% confidence interval: -4.8, -0.4), from 75.4% to 73.1%, and prevalence of annual eye exams fell by 4.0pp (-6.2, -2.8), from 72.2% to 68.7%. The composite indicator of engagement with healthcare for diabetes control fell by 3.5pp (-5.9, -1.1), from 44.9% to 41.9%. Of self-management behaviors, avoidance of smoking increased by 2.0pp (0.4, 3.6) from 84.7% to 87.1%. The findings suggest a deterioration of the uptake of evidence-based, preventive health services requiring laboratory services and clinical examination for diabetes control during the pandemic. On the other hand, smoking rates decreased, suggesting potential positive impacts of the pandemic on health behaviors in people with diabetes.