Practical Practitioner

By: Pamela Egan, FNP-C CDE

Diabetes Testing

The U. S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends diabetes screening for adults with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This is not a surprise.

Patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol have a higher risk of developing diabetes than those without these conditions. If diabetes is discovered, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol are necessary to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The American Diabetes Association already recommends screening for diabetes starting at age 45 especially if patients are overweight.

Earlier testing is recommended for overweight patients with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history or other risk factors. Exercise and weight loss can help prevent type two diabetes in addition to reducing cardiovascular risk. We now have evidence that comprehensive treatment of type two diabetes decreases the risk of heart disease by half, and reduces other diabetes complications.

This article was originally published March 31, 2003 in The St. Tammany News.

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