by Kassel K

Screening is done to find a health problem early and treat it. Tests are often given to people who do not have signs but who may be at high risk for the health problem.

Screening Guidelines

Prediabetes is a blood glucose level that is high, but not yet diabetes. Finding it early may help to prevent diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in:

  • Adults who are overweight or obese and:
    • Have a first degree relative with diabetes
    • Are African American, Latino, Native American, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
    • Have a history of heart disease
    • Have high blood pressure
    • Have a low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (good) cholesterol level and high triglycerides levels
    • Have Polycystic ovary syndrome
    • Lead an inactive lifestyle
    • Have other conditions that can cause insulin resistance
  • Women who have had gestational diabetes
  • Anyone with prior prediabetes
  • Adults aged 45 and older with or without risk factors
  • Overweight children over 10 years of age (or after puberty starts) with one or more of these risk factors:
    • High body mass index (BMI) based on child's weight and height
    • A family history of any type of diabetes, including during pregnancy
    • Signs of insulin resistance or having a health problem linked to it
    • Are African American, Latino, Native American, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander

Screening may be repeated again in three years.

Screening Tests

HbA1c Test

An HbA1c test is an average of blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 4 months. Fasting and diet changes are not usually needed before the test.

Fasting Plasma Glucose

A person must fast (not eat anything) for at least 8 hours before this test.

Two Hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

After fasting overnight, the doctor tests a person's glucose level. They are then asked to drink 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. Two hours later, the doctor tests the glucose level again.

References

Diabetes mellitus type 2 in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/diabetes-mellitus-type-2-in-adults. Accessed May 4, 2022.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 in children and adolescents. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/diabetes-mellitus-type-2-in-children-and-adolescents. Accessed May 4, 2022.

Prediabetes. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/prediabetes. Accessed May 4, 2022.

8/2/2019 EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance https://www.dynamed.com/condition/diabetes-mellitus-type-2-in-children-and-adolescents: American Diabetes Association. 2. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2019. Diabetes Care. 2019;42(Suppl 1):S13-S28.

Revision Information