Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Hemoglobin Screening Among Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Hemoglobin Screening Among Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes by County, New Jersey, 2018-2021
Why Is This Important?
Proper diabetes management requires regular monitoring of blood sugar levels. Glucometers provide immediate feedback on blood sugar levels. An A1C test, however, tells a person what his or her average blood sugar level has been over the past two or three months and is a more reliable indicator of blood sugar control. An A1C level indicates the amount of sugar that is attached to red blood cells (hemoglobin cells). Red blood cells are replaced every two or three months and sugar stays attached to the cells until they die. When levels of blood sugar are high, more sugar is available to attach to red blood cells. For most people with diabetes, the target A1C level is less than 7 percent. Higher levels suggest that a change in therapy may be needed. Therefore, obtaining regular A1C tests plays an important role in diabetes management. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes have an A1C test at least two times a year. However, the test should be conducted more often for individuals who are not meeting target blood sugar goals, or who have had a recent change in therapy. (See [http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/suppl_1/s15#T7])
Definition
Age-adjusted proportion of adults aged 18 years and older with diagnosed diabetes who self-reported having a glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) measurement at least twice a year.
Data Source
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health(http://www.nj.gov/health/chs/njbrfs/)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | Number of persons with diagnosed diabetes interviewed for the survey who reported that they have had at least two A1C measurements in the year prior to being surveyed. |
| Denominator: | Total number of persons with diagnosed diabetes interviewed during the same survey period. |
How Are We Doing?
In 2021, 71.7% of New Jersey adults with diagnosed diabetes had at least two glycosylated hemoglobin measurements a year. Hispanics have a lower screening rate (60.8%) compared to Asians (86.7%), Whites (77.8%), and Blacks (66.5%).
What Is Being Done?
The National Diabetes Education Program has instituted the ABC campaign which promotes the screening for A1c (blood glucose), Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol as monitoring measures to help control diabetes and heart disease. The Department of Health has suggested that target values for A1c , Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol be established by health providers in partnership with patients based on their individual circumstances.