The ADA guidelines include recommendations for screening for diabetes. It is recommended to screen asymptomatic persons for diabetes or their risk of diabetes. Screening is recommended for all individuals age 45 years and older; a negative screen should be repeated every three years. Screening is essential for individuals who are overweight, defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2.
The ADA also recommends earlier screening for many individuals. Among these are individuals who are overweight and have additional risk factors. Additional risk factors include:
- Physical inactivity
- Family history of diabetes
- A member of a high-risk ethnic group
Women who have had a large birth weight baby or gestational diabetes diagnosis should have earlier screening. Also included for earlier screening are individuals who are hypertensive or have lipidemia, vascular disease, or other clinical conditions associated with insulin resistance. Individuals who in previous testing had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), or HbA1C in the range of 5.7-6.5% should be screened for diabetes regularly.
