Fewer Type 2’s Are Undiagnosed

A lower percentage of type 2 diabetes cases is going undiagnosed than was the case in the past couple of decades, researchers found. In an analysis of NHANES data, only 11% of the national burden of diabetes was attributable to undiagnosed cases, compared with 16% about 15 years earlier. The prevalence of prediabetes also rose over the course of the study, from about 6% to 12%, they reported. On the other hand, prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes remained stable during that time. Only 11% of total diabetes in 2005-2010 was undiagnosed diabetes, compared with 16% in 1988-1994. "The proportion of undiagnosed diabetes cases decreased, suggesting improvements in screening and diagnosis," they wrote. But, the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was higher among blacks and Mexican Americans than it was among whites, they noted. Selvin E, et al "Trends in prevalence and control of diabetes in the United States, 1988 to 1994 and 1999 to 2010" Ann Intern Med 2014; DOI: 10.7326/M13-2411.