- A new study finds that control measures for blood pressure and glucose have improved in expansion states compared with non-expansion states.
- The improvements in blood pressure and glucose control are greatest for Black and Hispanic residents.
As part of the ACA, U.S. states were given the option of expanding Medicaid coverage to more people as a means of reducing the number of people without health insurance.
Hypertension and diabetes control
Monitoring blood pressure and glucose levels is critical for the detection and management of hypertension and diabetes, respectively.
Now million people in the U.S. with hypertension, just 1 in 4 have their condition under control. This puts them at elevated risk of heart attack and stroke.
Moreover, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Thirty-four million people in the U.S. have diabetes, although 1 in 5 do not know that they have it. Of the 88 million additional people who have prediabetes, 84% are unaware of their risk.