The Best Time To Screen For Diabetes

The Best Time To Screen For Diabetes

More than twenty three million Americans have diabetes, and most have type-two Diabetes. Type-two diabetes is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney and eye disease. Screening can help reduce the risk of those complications.

Until now, experts recommended that anyone overweight, or with a family history of the disease, be screened for diabetes. Now, a recent study published in the Journal Lancet says it's best to start screening for type-two diabetes before middle age and to repeat this testing every few years. In fact, using mathematical models, researchers found the most cost-effective approach is to begin screening between the ages of thirty and forty-five, and retest every three to five years.

They say this approach saves more money in the long-run and improves patients quality of life. Remember, talk to you doctor about when you should begin screening, which involves nothing more than a simple blood test.