A new survey on diabetes awareness highlights include the fact that more than half of the respondents do not know their blood glucose level. Increasing awareness of an individual’s blood glucose level is the foundation of the National Diabetes Goal, which aims to have 45% of at-risk Americans aware of their blood glucose level by 2015. Patient Assistance is a National Diabetes Goal Champion, pledging to raise awareness about diabetes and help turn that awareness into action.

Full results of the first two weeks of the survey are as follows:

• 32% of respondents have been told by a doctor or other medical professional that they are at-risk for diabetes.
• 12% of respondents feel they are at-risk of diabetes.
• 62% of respondents have been tested for diabetes.
• 44% of respondents know their blood glucose level.
• 69% of respondents feel there are actions they can take to prevent and/or manage diabetes.
• The most common ways respondents feel diabetes can be prevented or managed include diet, exercise, and medications.

“Our survey results are an enlightening look at the current level of diabetes awareness, specifically among the uninsured,” says Rex Bowden, President of PatientAssistance.com, the company that performed the survey. “We’re seeing that many of the uninsured aren’t even aware of their blood glucose level, and that a relatively small percentage of respondents consider themselves at-risk of diabetes. What we’re also seeing is that the majority of the uninsured do believe they can make a difference in preventing the onset of the disease, and that many are aware of options available to them, including those options not requiring medical services or medications which may not be as accessible to those without medical insurance.”