Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes : official journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association
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Exp. Clin. Endocrinol. Diabetes · Jan 2008
Prevalence of undiagnosed Type-2-diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in German primary care: data from the German Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Project (GEMCAS).
Primary care physicians are gatekeepers of the healthcare system and thus responsible for screening, prevention and treatment of diabetes. Little is known about the prevalence of diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and factors that are associated with the risk of future development of diabetes and subsequent cardiovascular disease in unselected patients presenting to general practitioners. ⋯ Approximately 15.7% of individuals in Germany consulting a primary care physician are affected from either diabetes (known and unknown) or impaired fasting glucose and face a substantially elevated cardiovascular risk score. This study demonstrated that using a simplified blood glucose screening algorithm considering risk markers like higher age, male gender, low HDL-cholesterol, high triglycerides and a family history of diabetes may well serve as a suitable screening approach for undiagnosed diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in primary care practice.