An insight into undiagnosed impaired glucose regulation

Type 2 diabetes is responsible for considerable morbidity, mortality and cost to society. There is good evidence that lifestyle modification and pharmacological intervention are effective means of delaying, and possibly preventing, the onset of type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose regulation. The aim of this study was to estimate the number of patients treated at our district general hospital over a 28-day period who had impaired glucose regulation and so would be suitable candidates for intervention. The results reveal that 518 patients passed through our hospital during this period with evidence of impaired glucose regulation, but only 95 of these patients were formally investigated for diabetes. Of those who were investigated further, over one fifth were shown to have impaired glucose regulation. We suggest that a random plasma glucose test may provide a useful means to identify a population for formal screening for diabetes.