Screening for Type 2 Diabetes
The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.
Screening Guidelines
Prediabetes
is characterized by high blood glucose levels that are not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. But the condition often progresses to
type 2 diabetes
.
In order to detect prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends the following guidelines:
-
Screen adults of any age who are overweight or
obese
with one or more of these risk factors:
- First-degree relative with diabetes
-
Low HDL (good) cholesterol level and
high triglycerides
levels
- High blood pressure
-
History of diabetes during pregnancy (
gestational diabetes
)
or having a baby weighing over nine pounds (4.1 kg)
-
Having
polycystic ovary syndrome
or other conditions associated with insulin resistance
- Being inactive
- History of cardiovascular disease
- Belonging to an at-risk ethnic group (African American, Hispanic, Native American, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander)
- Previous blood test results that show hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels at 5.7% or higher, impaired glucose tolerance, and impaired fasting glucose
- Screen adults aged 45 and older with or without risk factors
-
Screen overweight children aged 10 years and older who have two or more of the following risk factors:
- Family history of diabetes
- Mother with diabetes or gestational diabetes
- Signs of insulin resistance or having a condition associated with insulin resistance
- At-risk ethnic background
If the results are normal for both adults and children, the ADA recommends screening again in three years.
Screening Tests
HbA1c Test
The HbA1c test is a good indicator of your average blood glucose levels over the past 2-4 months. This test usually does not require any dietary restrictions.
| Diagnosis |
HbA1c Level |
| Prediabetes |
5.7%-6.4% |
| Diabetes |
6.5% or higher |
Fasting Plasma Glucose
With this blood test, you need to fast (not eat anything) for at least eight hours before the test.
| Diagnosis |
Fasting Plasma Glucose Level |
| Prediabetes |
100-125 mg/dL (5.6-6.9 mmol/L) |
| Diabetes |
126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher |
Two-Hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
After fasting overnight, the doctor tests your glucose level. You are then asked to drink 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. Two hours later, the doctor tests your glucose level again.
| Diagnosis |
Glucose Levels |
| Prediabetes |
140-199 mg/dL (7.8-11 mmol/L) |
| Diabetes |
200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher |
References
Diabetes mellitus type 2. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/
. Updated August 2, 2012. Accessed December 31, 2012.
Diabetes statistics. American Diabetes Association website. Available at:
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/?loc=DropDownDB-stats
. Accessed December 31, 2012.
Glucose. Lab Tests Online website. Available at:
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/glucose/tab/test
. Updated March 23, 2012. Accessed December 31, 2012.
Prediabetes. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/
. Updated August 2, 2012. Accessed December 31, 2012.
2/15/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
: American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2010.
Diabetes Care.
2010;33(suppl 1:S11-61).
2/15/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
: American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes Care.
2010;33(suppl 1:S62-69).