About 96 million American adults, or one out of every three adults, have prediabetes [1]. Prevention is key to offsetting the high cost of type 2 diabetes and its strain on the U.S. healthcare system. Early identification is crucial since individuals with prediabetes have up to a 50% chance of developing type 2 diabetes within five to 10 years [2]. Fortunately, prediabetes can be reversible before costly disease progression and complications occur. Screening and appropriate interventions can delay or prevent prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes.
Here’s how at-home testing with LetsGetChecked can help increase access to screening enabling people to engage in interventions to reverse prediabetes progression.
Prediabetes screening recommendations
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated their recommendation for screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in 2021 [3]. This new recommendation lowers the screening age for prediabetes from 40 to 35 years old. An estimated 34.5% of American adults meet the criteria for prediabetes [4]. However, only 19% report being told by a health professional that they had this condition [5].
Without screening, early signs of prediabetes can be hard to identify. Individuals can live with prediabetes for years without knowing it. More than 80% of individuals with prediabetes do not know they have it [6]. The often asymptomatic nature of prediabetes puts individuals at risk of letting their condition go untreated until serious health problems appear. This can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Screening for prediabetes can help identify asymptomatic individuals and treat these conditions earlier rather than later to prevent disease progression and adverse health outcomes.
Benefits of screening for prediabetes
Identifying individuals with prediabetes has important benefits for population health and health systems. Screening for prediabetes and intervening before a patient has progressed to type 2 diabetes can improve patient outcomes and lower long-term healthcare costs. Individuals who progress from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, microvascular disease, and other co-morbidities. Screening to know one’s risk status enables them to take early action to reverse prediabetes or delay type 2 diabetes.
With about one in three patients possibly having prediabetes, it may be difficult for healthcare providers to have the capacity to address this prevalent health problem. The continued provision of high-quality care for a growing number of people with diabetes will add to existing demands on healthcare providers and systems. Successfully helping patients with prediabetes to prevent or delay progression to type 2 diabetes will help reduce future demands on the U.S. healthcare system, allowing patients to experience higher quality care and better outcomes.
Simple and convenient prediabetes screening with LetsGetChecked
LetsGetChecked’s convenient at-home screening options can help individuals identify prediabetes and type 2 diabetes risk earlier and prevent them from leading to more high-cost chronic conditions. We can help you implement an engaging testing program for your population so they can take tests from the comfort of their homes and other convenient non-traditional care settings.
Our end-to-end solution has all the tools needed to ensure program success and growth, including real-time data for population health management, multi-channel communication strategies to drive utilization, a dedicated account team, and member support. We understand that every situation is unique and have a team of experts to help map out the right program for your plan members.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/about-prediabetes.html
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21498-prediabetes
- https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-for-prediabetes-and-type-2-diabetes
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2783414
- https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/diabetes/6-tips-keep-mind-when-screening-patients-prediabetes
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html
