RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Examining the Incidence of Prediabetes in Belize
JF American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
JO Clin Lab Sci
FD American Society of Chemistry and Laboratory Science
SP 6
OP 11
DO 10.29074/ascls.2018000174
VO 31
IS 1
A1 Isabel, Jeanne M.
YR 2018
UL http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/31/1/6.abstract
AB This research included diabetes screening assessment for a population in Belize that may not have ready access to testing. Data gathered on gender, age, and ethnicity were correlated with measurement of waist circumference and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The investigator used a point-of-care screening test for HbA1c to determine whether individuals fell within the normal range, the prediabetes range, or the diabetic range. A random selection of participants from the Belmopan region were tested. Analysis of the data indicated that 33.1% of the population tested in the prediabetes range for HbA1c. This percentage should be a concern to health care personnel in Belize who may have limited resources for patients’ diabetes treatment. An equally concerning finding is the number of participants in the diabetes range, 8.5% of whom had not been previously diagnosed. Diabetes education and screening is essential to the health and well-being of the people of Belize.