USPSTF Lowers Age for Diabetes Screening in Draft Recommendation

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, in a draft recommendation, now advises screening overweight or obese adults ages 35 to 70 for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. In 2015, the group recommended starting abnormal glucose screening later — at age 40.

The updated grade B recommendation also notes that patients with prediabetes should be offered or referred to preventive interventions like diet and physical activity. Metformin may also help prevent progression to diabetes, although it's not FDA-approved for this indication.

In terms of screening interval, the task force says that for adults with a normal glucose test, screening every 3 years "may be a reasonable approach."

The USPSTF also advises clinicians to consider screening at younger ages and lower BMIs for those in certain racial/ethnic groups, including Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Latino, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.

The draft recommendation is open for public comment until April 12.