Body Mass Index as a Guide for Diagnosing Prediabetes and Diabetes

The incidence of overweight and obese people has threatened the national healthcare system and the health of individuals who are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. An estimated one third of diabetes is undiagnosed in asymptomatic patients. This article describes how screening for prediabetes and diabetes can reduce both physical and financial costs and improve health care outcomes by early detection. A hemoglobin Alc (HbgAlc) can be cost effective through a single blood draw detailing the patient's average serum glucose over the previous 3 months. Electronic health records have the capacity to calculate body mass index, which could prompt HbgAlc screening.