Reaching positive diabetes outcomes for patients with low literacy.

Many persons with diabetes are labeled noncompliant, experience repeated hospital admissions, and have multiple complications due to poor disease control. These problems may result from unrecognized low health literacy. When communication and patient education materials are appropriate to literacy needs and preferences, people can succeed in managing their disease. This article describes low health literacy; consequences, and implications, and offers suggestions for improving health education efforts and materials for patients with diabetes.