Prevalence of previously diagnosed diabetes and glycemic control strategies in Mexican adults: ENSANUT-2016

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of previously diagnosed diabetes among Mexican adults, to characterize the associated risk factors, and to describe which glycemic control strategies are the most used. METHODS: We analyzed data from 8,631 adults aged ≥20 years who participated in the ENSANUT-2016 and from whom we gathered data about previously diagnosed diabetes, risk factors, glycemic control strategies, and measures to prevent complications. RESULTS: The prevalence of previously diagnosed diabetes in Mexican adults was 9.4% (10.3% in women and 8.4% in men). The adjusted OR for having diabetes was higher in adults aged ≥60 years (OR = 11.0 in women and OR = 30.7 in men) than in adults aged 20–39 years (OR = 1.0). The adjusted OR for having diabetes was higher in overweight men (OR = 1.7) than in men with normal BMI (OR = 1.0). A total of 30.5% of adults with diabetes did not report any control strategies, 44.9% measured their venous blood glucose, and 15.2% used the HbA1C as an indicator of glycemic control. Only 46.4% of them reported preventive measures. DISCUSSION: Diabetes is a common disease among Mexican adults. Being older or overweight are risk factors for an adult to be diagnosed with diabetes. Most adults with diabetes evaluate their glycemic control but only half practice preventive measures.