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type 2 diabetes: screening for adults

overview

doctors follow guidelines from experts to decide when to test adults for type 2 diabetes. talk with your doctor about your risk for type 2 diabetes and how often you need to be tested.

the canadian task force on preventive health care (ctfphc) recommends using a risk calculator such as the canadian diabetes risk questionnaire (canrisk) to determine your level of risk. go to www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/en/canrisk to use the canrisk tool. the ctfphc recommends:footnote 1

  • not testing if you have low to moderate risk.
  • testing every 3 to 5 years with an a1c test if you are at high risk.
  • yearly testing with an a1c test if you are at very high risk.

diabetes canada recommends testing every 3 years if you are age 40 or older. if you are at very high risk, diabetes canada recommends that you get tested more often and/or begin testing at a younger age. you are at risk for diabetes if:footnote 2

  • you have a parent or sibling who has type 2 diabetes.
  • you are of indigenous, african, hispanic, asian, or south asian descent.
  • you have prediabetes. this means your blood sugar is above normal but is not high enough to be diabetes.
  • you have high blood pressure.
  • you have high cholesterol or other fats in your blood.
  • you had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or you have delivered a baby who weighed 4 kilograms or more.
  • you have polycystic ovary syndrome.
  • you are overweight (especially around your middle).
  • you have vascular disease, such as heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral arterial disease (pad).
  • you have a skin problem called acanthosis nigricans.
  • you have schizophrenia.

references

citations

  1. canadian task force on preventive health care (2012). recommendations on screening for type 2 diabetes in adults. canadian medical association journal, 184(15): 1687–1696. also available online: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/184/15/1687.full.
  2. diabetes canada clinical practice guidelines expert committee, et al. (2018). screening for diabetes in adults. canadian journal of diabetes, 42(suppl 1): s16–s19. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.004. accessed october 15, 2018.

credits

current as of: october 2, 2023

author: healthwise staff
clinical review board
all healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

this information does not replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise, incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. your use of this information means that you agree to the terms of use. learn how we develop our content.

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