Diabetes prediction tools not being used enough, says study

Fri, 02 Dec 2011
Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, have claimed that the lack of use of available prediction tools for identifying people at risk of diabetes is increasing the number of people developing the metabolic condition.

The study, which was published in the British Medical Journal, found there are many tools for and techniques that can predict diabetes risk in people with a reasonable chance of success, but that these are hardly ever being used.

The project assessed 145 separate risk scores, such as age, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and ethnicity, for the development of type 2 diabetes, many of which can offer a reasonable prediction if a person will develop diabetes during the next 10 years.

Team leader Douglas Noble commented "Despite there being vast numbers of risk prediction models, hardly any of them were in use in clinical practice or by members of the public. The best ones, of which we identified seven, represent a big opportunity for people to spot whether they are at high risk of developing diabetes and if so to take urgent action to reduce their risk."

"If we stop people from developing diabetes in the first place we will prevent a great deal of ill health, save money, reduce use of NHS resources and, crucially, save lives."

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