Is "sugar" the same as diabetes? A community-based study among rural African-Americans

OBJECTIVE - To determine if differing beliefs about high blood glucose exist and are associated with blood glucose control among rural African-Americans. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A community-based sample of rural African-Americans completed a survey: and a subsample underwent a subsequent screening that included glucose and GHb measurement. Participants were asked if they thought they had diabetes or sugar-diabetes on the survey; "sugar" was added to the screening along with specific questions about this condition. RESULTS - A total of 1,031 people completed the survey and 403 the screening exam. The total prevalence of diabetes was 13.6% for men and 15.5% for women. Among those who reported having one of the three conditions, 64% said they had diabetes. 7% sugar-diabetes, and 29% sugar. There was a discrepancy between the survey and screening in that 31% of subjects who answered "yes" to whether they had sugar at the screening had answered "no" to the survey question about diabetes. Subjects who believed the) had sugar felt their condition was less serious and had higher glucose levels than those who said they had diabetes. CONCLUSIONS - Diabetes was very common in this population. Over one-fourth of those with diabetes believed they had the condition "sugar." Efforts are needed to improve central of diabetes in this population and should consider these disparate health beliefs.