Diabetes Screening

• Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2006. Over 200,000 individuals die each year of related complications.

• Millions of people have diabetes and do not know it. However, with early detection and treatment the more likely it is that the serious health consequences of diabetes can be prevented or delayed.

• Individuals are considered at risk for diabetes if they have any of the following risk factors:

• Hypertension
• Dyslipidemia
• Obesity (a body mass index greater than or equal to 30kg/m2)
• Previous identification of an elevated impaired fasting glucose or glucose intolerance

OR

Individuals who at least 2 of the following characteristics:

• Overweight
• Family history of diabetes
• Age 65 or older
• A history of gestational diabetes mellitus, or delivery of a baby weighing greater than 9 pounds

• For those who are not diabetics or have not previously been diagnosed as pre-diabetics, Medicare covers one diabetes screening test within a 12 month period