CHSU Discovery

The San Joaquin Valley has a high prevalence of pre diabetes, estimated at 47%, which increases to 68% among those residing in the Fresno valley 1 The health of those with diabetes in the San Joaquin Valley is further impacted by a lack of transportation and access to healthcare This disparity is disproportionately high for people with diabetes confronting structural barriers such as lack of health insurance, poverty, racism, food insecurity, etc. 2 This lack of resources is being addressed by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) such as United Health Centers ( • Patients who have diabetes are recommended to complete HbA1c blood tests at periodic intervals to determine their progress. HbA1c levels are determined by the amount of available glucose in the blood and is periodically measured at 120 days, providing an average value of glucose levels. 3,4 HbA1c allows providers and patients to evaluate an average glucose level over a sustained time period, assisting in the monitoring, management and control of diabetes • Improved management can reduce diabetes related complications. For example, a reduction in each percentage point of HbA1c can reduce the risk of microvascular complications such as retinopathy and renal disease by 37%. 5 Thus diabetes management is imperative in improving health outcomes. • UHC has implemented HbA1c POCT at various locations, providing rapid and accurate HbA1c measurements onsite, which may assist and improve diabetes management. By April 2023, we will determine if the HbA1c point of care test administered to the uncontrolled patient population (HbA1c over 9%) will improve diabetes control.