Differences in HbA1C% screening among U.S. adults diagnosed with diabetes: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

What is already known about this subject? •ADA recommends that individuals with Type-1 or Type-2 Diabetes have their HbA1C% tested each year.•People of color with diabetes were significantly less likely to have had HbA1C% screening in the past year.•Individuals w/hypertension or high cholesterol were more likely to have been screened for HbA1C%. To assess differences in HbA1C% screening by health care providers (HCP’s) in U.S. adults with previously diagnosed diabetes using nationally representative survey data collected during the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Cross-sectional analysis of 1725 adults from the 2011–2016 NHANES. Logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios for having received HbA1C% screening from a health care provider in the past year for the entire population, as well as separately based on an individual’s self-reported health insurance status. Individuals with health insurance, a history of hypertension, a history of high cholesterol, a higher frequency of visits to a health care provider, and those surveyed during the 2015–2016 NHANES were all significantly more likely to have been screened for HbA1C% in the past year. When compared to Non-Hispanic Whites however, both Hispanic Americans (aOR 0.38 (95% CI, 0.25–0.60) and African Americans (aOR 0.53 (95% CI, 0.32–0.87) with health insurance were significantly less likely to have been screened for HbA1C% in the past year. Our results indicate that despite having health insurance, people of color who have diabetes are significantly less likely to have their HbA1C% monitored by a health care provider.