Independent Relationship between Incarceration Factors and Glycemic Control in African Americans with Criminal Legal Involvement and Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract: Objective. Examine the relationship between incarceration factors and glycemic control in African Americans with criminal legal involvement and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods. Using a cross-sectional survey analysis of 171 adults, a model was estimated using stepwise regression with forward selection to evaluate the relationship between incarceration factors and glycemic control, controlling for demographic and clinical factors. Results. Reporting a drug-related conviction (β:–0.81; 95%CI:–1.50,–0.11) was associated with higher HbA1c compared with no drug-related conviction. Compared with using only pills or oral hypoglycemic agents, the combination of pills/oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin (β:1.31; 95%CI:0.60,2.01) and using insulin or injectables alone (β:0.94; 95%CI:0.14,1.74) were associated with higher HbA1c. Each additional comorbidity (β:–0.18; 95%CI:–0.33,-0.04) and unit increase in age (β:–0.04; 95%CI:–0.08,–0.01) was associated with a lower HbA1c. Conclusion. History of a drug-related conviction, age, comorbidity, and medication were associated with glycemic control in African Americans with a history of criminal legal involvement and T2DM.