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Broader Diabetes Screenings Urged And Post-Stroke Monitoring

Broader Screenings for Diabetes Urged by U.S. Task Force
Every American over the age of 45 should be screened for both type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, the common condition of having blood glucose levels higher than normal, a U.S. task force has recommended.

The number of Americans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically over the past two decades, nearly at the same pace as the obesity epidemic.

In 2012, 12 percent of adults had diabetes and 37 percent had pre-diabetes, a condition that makes it much likelier for an individual to develop full-blown diabetes — unless key lifestyle changes are made, such as adopting a healthier diet and starting a regular exercise program.

The proposed plan by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force [1] is not final until after the task force accepts public comment on the issue.  The American Medical Association has already endorsed the task force’s early screening recommendation.

“Research shows that there are effective lifestyle change programs including proven diabetes prevention programs that can help patients with prediabetes avoid the onset of type 2 diabetes and its associated poor health outcomes,” said Robert M. Wah, M.D., president of the American Medical Association.

Here are blog articles covering diabetes and pre-diabetes: