Addressing the diabetes crisis in the U.S. has become a major focus of health care reform and those dedicated to combatting the cost of the disease — both in terms of human suffering and dollars. Yet a study of employees who have health coverage through a company plan finds that less than one in five know what their blood sugar level is.

Healthmine surveyed 561 plan members, asking them what they knew about key biometric measurements. The results revealed a shocking lack of knowledge about metrics frequently related to chronic disorders, the costliest disease segment.

"While 83 percent of people say they have easy or somewhat easy access to their health information, 68 percent don't know their biometric measurements — key indicators of risk for chronic preventable conditions," Healthmine reported. "That number is in stark contrast to the 81 percent of consumers who want to know their biometrics yearly or every six months. It means that U.S. consumers have a failing grade when it comes to knowing their key health facts."