The American Diabetes Association recommends that physicians screen their patients for prediabetes starting at age 45. As long as a screening is normal, you should repeat it at three-year intervals. Screening is especially important for people who answer yes to these questions:
Do you have a relative with type 2 diabetes or heart disease?
Are you overweight or obese?
Do you have high blood pressure?
Do you have a sedentary lifestyle?
Do you have high levels of triglycerides and/or low levels of HDL cholesterol, both being types of fats measured in a blood test?
Do you belong to a higher-risk ethnic group such as African American, Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander?
Do you have “apple-shaped” rather than “pear-shaped” weight distribution? This means your excess weight is around your stomach rather than your hips.
For women who have had children, did you develop diabetes during the pregnancy or have a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds at birth?
For women, is there a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that may include lack of periods, infertility, and increased hair on the body?