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Data Trends 2023: Diabetes
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It is estimated that one-quarter of the 8 million veterans in VHA care have some form of diabetes, with another 3 million having prediabetes.1,2 Higher rates of obesity, older age, and lower socioeconomic status compared with the general public are contributing factors.2 As the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be studied, it appears that HbA1c testing, prescription fills, and other outpatient care have all returned to prepandemic levels within the VHA, although recent data have revealed adverse outcomes in veterans with diabetic macular edema (DME) who delayed their eyecare appointments in 2020.3,4 As with many areas of health care, some gaps in treatment remain for different racial and ethnic groups that must be addressed to optimize outcomes for all patients.5
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The first 3 months of the pandemic saw significant decreases in several points of care among veterans with type 2 diabetes. However, many of these factors have now returned to prepandemic levels.
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DME is a significant concern for patients with type 2 diabetes and is the most common cause of preventable blindness among younger US adults. Data from a VA eye care clinic show that more than half of patients had worsening vision or edema after a delay in care at the start of the pandemic.4
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Compared with patients who kept their original appointments, patients who delayed their appointments were 4.04 times more likely to experience poor outcomes.4
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A study of nearly 1.2 million veterans with diabetes revealed ethnic and racial disparities in care, including prescriptions dispensed at the VHA.