Poor control of risk factors for vascular disease among adults with previously diagnosed diabetes

Only seven percent of all US patients with diabetes have appropriate blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, according to data from the 1988-1994 and 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). The percentage of diabetic patients who had low blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels did not change substantially between the time the two surveys were done. Diabetics have a greater risk for cardiovascular disease than people without diabetes.