Population screening for diabetes mellitus. Professional Advisory Committee of the British Diabetic Association

Abstract

The role and value of screening for diabetes mellitus is still unclear. If asymptomatic subjects are to be screened, then a fasting plasma glucose > 6.6 mmol l-1 or a venous plasma glucose 2 h after a 75 g oral glucose load > 8.0 mmol l-1 or the presence of any glucose in a urine sample passed 2 h after a main meal should be regarded as a positive result. A fasting plasma glucose in the range 5.5-6.6 mmol l-1 is an equivocal result which should lead to retesting in 6-12 months if there is any risk factor for diabetes (obesity, family history of diabetes, Asian/African racial origin). Other screening tests or combinations of tests are not recommended. Screening should be restricted to subjects between 40 and 75 years and should be undertaken only every 5 years (3 years if a risk factor for diabetes is present), ideally in parallel with other health screening test; subjects with a positive result should have further investigations as necessary to reach a diagnosis in line with WHO criteria.