Journal of diabetes and its complications
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J. Diabetes Complicat. · Nov 2011
Disparities in diabetes self-management and quality of care in rural versus urban veterans.
There are distinct geographic differences in diabetes-related morbidity and mortality; however, data regarding self-management and clinical outcomes are limited. This study examined diabetes care among veterans residing in rural versus urban areas. ⋯ Diabetes self-foot care was significantly better among rural veterans than their urban counterparts, but quality of care was equivalent. This suggests that clinical diabetes care among veterans is uniform; however, greater efforts for patient education and support in diabetes self-management are needed to improve outcomes.