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Are food insecure adults more likely to have undiagnosed diabetes mellitus?
Author(s) -
Ding Meng,
Zizza Claire
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.631.2
Subject(s) - medicine , national health and nutrition examination survey , food security , diabetes mellitus , logistic regression , odds , environmental health , odds ratio , population , disease , demography , gerontology , endocrinology , geography , agriculture , archaeology , sociology
Food insecure adults are at risk for chronic diseases, including diabetes. Although they are vulnerable, no study has been conducted to examine the association between food insecurity and undiagnosed diabetes. Our population‐based sample included 10452 participants (≥ 20 y) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2008. Food security status was assessed by USDAˈs 18‐item Food Security Survey Module. Undiagnosed diabetes was determined by comparing self‐reported and clinical examination results. Logistic regression models controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, health insurance, family income and level of education were used to estimate the association between food security status and undiagnosed diabetes. Compared with those who were food secure, adults with marginal food security had 1.81‐fold increased odds of undiagnosed diabetes (95% CI, 1.25–2.61), and those with low food security had a 1.63‐fold increased odds of undiagnosed diabetes (95% CI, 1.13–2.34). There was no association with very low food security. In conclusion, food insecure adults may be more vulnerable because they may not be aware of their disease status.