ARLINGTON, Va., May 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study released
today by the American Diabetes Association® in
partnership with dQ&A, finds that growing numbers of
people with diabetes have not only been forced to put off needed
medical care since the outbreak of COVID-19, but that alarming
numbers are struggling to manage their blood glucose levels.
Key survey results found:
- Nearly 1 in 5 Americans with diabetes have skipped
doctor's appointments since the start of the pandemic, principally
due to fear of contracting the virus;
- 1 in 4 people with diabetes report having trouble
controlling their blood glucose levels during the public health
emergency; and
- 1 in 10 adults with diabetes say they have
developed new health complications like high blood pressure, heart
problems, peripheral artery disease, and eye disorders since last
March.
While an increase in diabetes complications puts the diabetes
community at a heightened long-term risk, poor glycemic control
also leaves people with diabetes especially vulnerable to adverse
COVID-19 outcomes should they catch the coronavirus in the near
term.
Dr. Robert Gabbay, ADA Chief
Scientific and Medical Officer, said, "Over the past year, we've
witnessed a grossly disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the
health and safety of Americans living with diabetes. As a
community, and as a nation, we must work to bring more
resources–from expanded access to diabetes technology and
telemedicine to expanded programs for healthy food and beverages–to
the 34 million Americans who have diabetes. We must also
acknowledge and address the systemic barriers that prevent many
people with diabetes from staying safe and healthy, through the end
of this pandemic and beyond."
The results of this survey were compiled from a national online
poll of 5,645 people with diabetes between March 4th, 2021, and March
16th, 2021, with margins of error of +/- 2%
percent.
About the American Diabetes Association
Every day,
more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in
America. More than 122 million Americans have diabetes or
prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living
with the disease. The ADA is the nation's leading voluntary health
organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic
and helping people living with diabetes thrive. For 80 years, the
ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and
prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help
people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and
developing programs, advocacy, and education designed to improve
their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together, what we do
next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get
involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES
(800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American
Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram
(@AmDiabetesAssn).
About dQ&A – The Diabetes Research Company
dQ&A is a social enterprise that's committed to making life
better for people with diabetes. We harness patient voices to help
develop better tools and policies for people with diabetes and
improve health outcomes. For over ten years, we have been tracking
the experiences and opinions of people with diabetes in
the United States, Canada and Europe. We are trusted by patients because of
our independence and commitment to them. Our team has decades of
experience in quantitative and qualitative research and a deep
knowledge of diabetes. Many of our own lives have been touched by
diabetes, so we have a personal stake in our work. To learn more
and to see research highlights, you can visit us
at d-qa.com and follow us on LinkedIn (dQ&A - The
Diabetes Research Company), Facebook (@dQandA) and Twitter
(@dQAresearch).
Contacts: Daisy
Diaz, 703-253-4807
press@diabetes.org
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SOURCE American Diabetes Association