Diabetes: Screen all Adults 45 and Older

Adults age 45 and older should be screened for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, says new advice from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Younger people with diabetes risk factors such as obesity or family history and certain ethnicities should also be screened. The USPSTF last made recommendations for diabetes screening in 2008. At that time, the task force said screening was only needed for people with high blood pressure. Since then,  evidence supports screening more people for abnormal blood sugar levels. The number of Americans with type 2 diabetes has increased significantly in the last 15 years, along with rates of obesity. Studies suggest that diabetes can be prevented with lifestyle changes, if abnormal blood sugar levels are caught early. The USPSTF posted the draft recommendation on its website. HealthDay News wrote about it October 7.