The status of diabetes care in Mexican population: are we making a difference? Results of the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2006.

OBJECTIVE: Examine clinical indicators to evaluate diabetes care in Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Diabetics (self reported, with therapy) were examined with standardized questionnaires, anthropometry, glucose, lipids and glycohemoglobin. Data were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS: There were 2 644 patients, 677 cases without access to medical care (73% women), most lived in rural communities and spoke aboriginal dialect. Prevalence of obesity for private access group was 21.2%, for other or non access group was between 31 and 65%. The group without or basic education was most common, 76% of the cases had HDL <40 mg/dl and 36% had hypertriglyceridemia. Only 6.6% of patients had HbA1c <7%. There was no significant difference between HbA1c values observed in the group with or without access. Most patients were treated with oral agents. A significant group was without therapy. Assessments for complications was infrequent.

CONCLUSIONS: Current model for diabetes care in Mexico is inefficacious and a paradigm change is necessary.