Physician Performance and Racial Disparities in Diabetes Mellitus Care

Abstract
Racial disparities in the quality of diabetes mellitus (DM) care and outcomes are well documented. Black patients with DM are less likely than white patients to receive recommended processes of care, including hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and lipid testing.1,2 Ideal DM treatment goals, such as glycemic, cholesterol, and blood pressure (BP) control are also less commonly achieved among black patients compared with white patients.3-8 Ultimately, black patients are more likely than white patients to experience poor long-term diabetic outcomes, including diabetic retinopathy,9 lower extremity amputations,2,10,11 and chronic kidney disease.12