The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) recommend diabetes screening beginning at 45 years of age; the ADA advises earlier screening in patients with risk factors.
American Diabetes Association Recommendations for the Screening of Asymptomatic Persons for Diabetes
Screen beginning at 45 yr of age, at least every 3 yr
Screen at any age and more frequently if the body-mass index is 25 or more and if the person has at least one additional risk factor:
- Family history of diabetes (first-degree relative)
- High-risk race (e.g., black, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander) or ethnic group (Hispanic)
- Glycated hemoglobin level of 5.7% or more or impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance on previous testing
- History of gestational diabetes or delivery of a baby weighing more than 9 lb (4.1 kg)
- The polycystic ovary syndrome
- Hypertension (blood pressure >/=140/90 mm Hg; or therapy for hypertension)
- HDL cholesterol level of less than 35 mg per deciliter (0.91 mmol per liter), triglyceride level of more than 250 mg per deciliter (2.8 mmol per liter), or both
- History of cardiovascular disease
- Physical inactivity
- Other clinical conditions associated with insulin resistance (e.g., severe obesity and acanthosis nigricans)
References:
- American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes — 2012. Diabetes Care 2012;35:Suppl 1:S11-S63. [Medline]
- Inzucchi SE. Clinical practice. Diagnosis of diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2012 Aug 9;367(6):542-50. [Medline]
Created Aug 23, 2012.
