USPSTF recommends screening asymptomatic adults for diabetes

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is expanding the population it recommends screening for type 2 diabetes, according to a draft recommendation released this week.

The new recommendation suggests screening for abnormal blood glucose in adults who are at increased risk for diabetes, which was defined as being age 45 years or older, being overweight or obese, or having a first-degree relative with diabetes. Women with a history of gestational diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome and certain racial/ethnic minorities, including African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, are also at increased risk, the recommendation noted.

The recommendation is a Grade B recommendation, which means that the Task Force has a high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial. It is an update of the 2008 USPSTF recommendation, which found insufficient evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening adults without hypertension for diabetes. This new recommendation is the result of multiple new studies showing consistent benefits of lifestyle modifications to prevent or delay diabetes which changed the USPSTF's perspective on screening.

The recommendation is open for comment until Nov. 3.