Evaluation of effects of health literacy, numeracy skills, and english proficiency on health outcomes in the population of people with diabetes in east harlem

Abstract

IN BRIEF In the management of diabetes, adequate health literacy is necessary to help patients monitor their caloric and carbohydrate intake and monitor their blood glucose to achieve adequate glycemic control. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the health literacy of patients with diabetes from East Harlem in New York City using the validated Newest Vital Sign screening tool and to investigate its association with microvascular complications of diabetes. Lower health literacy was found to be associated with higher microvascular complications in these patients with diabetes.