New screening guidelines for diabetes and prediabetes seem to lead to better detection rates

A new analysis finds that the uptake of 2021 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines and 2022 American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendations has had a positive effect on detection rates for prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes.

Data from the 2015–2022 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey informed the study, which focuses on a sample population of 4,480 adults aged 20 years and older. Among these men and women with no history of confirmed prediabetes or diabetes, researchers found that the recent USPSTF and ADA guidance, which lowers the starting threshold for diabetes screening to age 35 years, increased eligibility substantially.

With the USPSTF recommendations, which are based on age and body mass index, the share eligible for screening climbed from 36.3% with the 2015 document to 43.0% under last year’s update.

Screening eligibility per ADA, which considers a broader range of risk factors, widened from 76.7% under the 2003 guidance to 82.9% under recommendations issued in 2022.

“Starting diabetes screening at age 35 years may place even greater demands on clinicians to care for younger populations,” the study authors wrote. “Expanding health care access, developing targeted outreach for high-risk individuals, and scaling prevention programs will be critical.”