In addition to pregnant women, all people over the age of 45 get their fasting blood glucose measured to screen for diabetes every 3 years if they don’t have any risk factors.
The American Diabetes Association also recommends that patients get screened earlier and more frequently if they have any risk factors such as:
- Familyhistory of diabetes in 1st degree relative
- Obesity
- High cholesterol or triglycerides
- Hypertension
- Impaired glucose tolerance (often determined during pregnancy)
- History of vascular disease
- Habitual physical inactivity
- History of gestational diabetes
- History of delivering a baby over 9 lbs.
- History of polycystic ovarian syndrome
- In a high risk race (African American or Hispanic)