ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired -
Oct 7, 2014) - The American Diabetes Association (Association) applauds the
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for elevating the draft
recommendation for Screening of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults, released yesterday.
The USPSTF's draft recommendation will now include multiple risk-factor based
type 2 diabetes screening for asymptomatic patients in addition to screening
those who have high blood pressure, which was previously the only screening
guideline under the existing recommendation last updated in 2008.
In issuing today's draft
recommendation, the USPSTF has taken into consideration the abundance of
evidence demonstrating that risk-factor based screening for type 2 diabetes
will identify more individuals with the disease. Today, 8 million of the nearly
30 million children and adults in the U.S. living with diabetes have not been
diagnosed with the disease. The estimated economic cost of undiagnosed diabetes
is a staggering $18 billion annually. It is crucial to identify these cases in
order for patients to engage in proper diabetes management and prevent costly
and dangerous complications, including cardiovascular disease, stroke
blindness, amputation and kidney disease.
"The American Diabetes
Association is thrilled with the decision of the U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force to strengthen their recommendation and take into consideration the wealth
of research pointing to the need for risk-factor based screening in type 2
diabetes," said Robert Ratner, MD, Chief Scientific & Medical Officer,
American Diabetes Association. "Early diagnosis of both type 2 and
prediabetes is essential in improving the outcomes for these patients.
Undeniable data show the efficacy and cost effectiveness of preventing diabetes.
This new draft recommendation is a step in the right direction in the ongoing
fight to Stop Diabetes®."
The American Diabetes
Association has long advocated for risk-factor based screening for type 2
diabetes in our annual Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. There are a
number of factors associated with type 2 diabetes, including advanced age,
being overweight or obese, family history of type 2 diabetes, and being a
member of certain minority population that increase a patient's risk for type 2
diabetes. Using risk-factor based screenings will lead to diagnosing more
individuals who are living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, but also help to
identify those with prediabetes who are at high risk for developing type 2 and
once diagnosed, can work to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.
A 2013 study in the American
Journal of Preventive Medicine found screening using the current USPSTF
recommendations results in missing more than half of those who have undiagnosed
diabetes. The decision to broaden the screening recommendation is an essential
step to improving diabetes health outcomes, as these recommendations offer
guidance to health care providers on providing appropriate preventive care.
Additionally, under the Affordable Care Act, preventive services that receive A
or B ratings are covered through private insurance without cost-sharing. This
means individuals at risk will have greater access to diabetes screening if the
draft recommendation stands. As the USPSTF continues the process of developing
the final recommendation, the Association applauds the efforts to improve
screening guidelines and urges the USPSTF to uphold the draft recommendation.
The American Diabetes
Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences
and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to
prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of
communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to
those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is
to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by
diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at
1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org.
CONTACT INFORMATION
• Contact:
Susan McCarthy
(703) 549-1500 ext. 1637
smccarthy@diabetes.org