Evidence lacking for screening children for prediabetes, T2D

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against screening children or adolescents for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Sept. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Daniel E. Jonas, M.D., M.P.H., from RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center, and colleagues reviewed the evidence on the benefits and harms of screening children and adolescents for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Data were included from eight publications, with 856 participants; six publications were from the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth study. The researchers found that none of the studies directly examined the benefits or harms of screening.

Based on these findings, the USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient for assessing the benefits and harms of type 2 diabetes screening in children and adolescents (I statement).

“The rate of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in youth is increasing,” a task force member said in a statement. “It is important that health care professionals be aware of the signs and symptoms of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and use their judgment when determining whether or not to screen youth.”

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