This article originally appeared in BMJ USA

Seven criteria should be considered when screening for a disease in an asymptomatic population.¹ These are: a) the disease represents an important health problem that imposes a significant burden on the population; b) the natural history of the disease is understood; c) there is a recognizable preclinical (asymptomatic) stage during which the disease can be diagnosed; d) tests are available that can detect the preclinical stage of the disease and the tests are acceptable and reliable; e) treatment after early detection yields benefits superior to those obtained when treatment is delayed; f) the costs of case finding and treatment are reasonable and are balanced in relation to health expenditures as a whole, and facilities and resources are available to treat newly diagnosed cases; and g) screening will be a systematic ongoing process and not merely an isolated one-time effort.

Selected populations recommended for screening for type 2 diabetes* 1.  Individuals 45 years (if normal, repeat at 3-year intervals) 2.  Testing should be considered at a younger age or be carried out more frequently in individuals who: are obese (120% desirable body weight or a BMI 27 kg/m2), have a first-degree relative with diabetes, are members of a high-risk ethnic population (eg, African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander), have delivered a baby weighing >9 lbs or have been diagnosed with GDM, are hypertensive (140/90 mm Hg), have an HDL cholesterol level 35 mg/dl and/or a triglyceride level 250 mg/dl on previous testing, had IGT or IFG BMI = body mass index; GDM = gestational diabetes mellitus; HDL = high density lipoprotein; IGT = impaired glucose tolerance; IFG = impaired fasting glucose *Adapted from: American Diabetes Association. Screening for diabetes. Diabetes Care 2001;24(Suppl 1):S21-S24.

For type 2 diabetes, the . . . [Full text of this article]