Prevalence of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus reaching the American Diabetes Association's target guidelines in a university primary care setting

Background The success with which primary care physicians are able to meet American Diabetes Association (ADA) clinical goals is unknown. Methods Charts of 218 randomly sampled type 2 diabetic patients were abstracted to assess the attainment of six ADA treatment goals and receipt of four ADA-recommended health services. Results The mean number of ADA goals attained was 4.9 (SD, 1.6). Only one patient had attained all 10 goals. Most patients had attained ADA goals for triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and diabetic education. Most patients had not received an annual eye examination or urine microalbuminuria screening, most were not taking daily aspirin, and most had not attained treatment goals for high-density lipoprotein or systolic blood pressure. Conclusion ADA treatment goals may be quite difficult to attain in the primary care setting. Further studies are needed to understand the barriers to diabetes control.