quality reports : Clinical Quality


Quality Insights: Clinical Quality in Primary Care

Diabetes Care for Adults:
Blood Pressure Control

Healthcare quality measure: This measure looks at the adult members (18-75 years old) of the state’s five largest managed care health plans, who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and “good” blood pressure levels (below 130/80 mm Hg).

Reasons for this measure: Diabetes is a serious disease. If not well controlled, diabetes can lead to death or disabilities such as vision problems, kidney failure, or amputations of the foot or leg. Diabetes can also cause problems in a woman’s pregnancy. Almost 21 million adults in the United States have diabetes.

Three out of four (73%) adults with diabetes have high blood pressure or use prescription medications to lower blood pressure to more healthy levels. When a person’s blood pressure is under control, he or she is at lower risk for cardiovascular disease (heart disease), kidney disease, eye disease, and other health problems.

Costs are high to treat diabetes and its problems. These include “indirect costs,” such as when employees miss work because of health problems. In the U.S., these costs are about $58 billion each year. “Direct costs” of diabetes include doctor’s visits, screening tests, and medications. These total about $116 billion each year.

Ways your doctor can help...

  • Teach you about diabetes. This includes problems that can happen if your blood pressure levels get out of control.
  • Teach you ways to control blood pressure. This includes eating healthy foods and being active each day.
  • Check your blood pressure at each visit.
  • If needed, prescribe medications and explain what they do and how to take them.
  • Talk with you about diabetes problems, ways to notice them, and what to do if they occur.
  • Ask you to have eye exams and other tests that check whether your diabetes is under control.
  • As needed, refer you to a dietician, diabetes educator, or specialist who can help in your diabetes care.

Ways you can help...

    <
  • Make a diabetes plan with your doctor. This plan should include what foods to eat, how often to exercise, and when to have appointments.
  • Take all medication as your doctor prescribes. This includes medication to control blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have problems with any of your medications.
  • Eat the foods you are supposed to eat. A healthy diet is one of the best ways to control diabetes and high blood pressure.
  • Be active each day. This can be taking walks, going to a gym, or doing other types of exercise.
  • Know that health problems (such as high blood pressure) can make diabetes worse.
  • Visit the doctor at least once a year. Some people with diabetes see their doctors even more often, maybe once every 3 to 4 months. Make sure to go to all your doctor’s appointments -- even when you are feeling well.

Ways to learn more...

Click here to search for your doctor's medical group results
or to compare measures across medical groups.

 

Go To Top of Page