Prevalence of Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes in a Cohort of High Risk Undiagnosed Patients

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a silent disease that progresses sometimes for years before diagnosis. Several methods of screening of diabetes have been suggested. Screening those at high risk periodically may be the most cost effective. Our primary objective is to evaluate the usefulness of a simple questionnaire in evaluating undiagnosed subjects at risk, in order to determine the prevalence of pre-diabetes (PD) and T2D in high risk patients. A group of 200 Lebanese subjects were randomly selected from different areas of Bekaa, aged 18 to 65 years, not diagnosed with pre-PD or T2D. A questionnaire was used to assess gender, history of gestational diabetes, family history of diabetes, presence of hypertension, level of physical activity and anthropometry. Participants who had a total score greater than or equal to five were selected for laboratory tests for diabetes. The prevalence of PD and T2D was 8.5% and 26% respectively. 34.5% in total. A significant positive correlation was found between diabetes risk factors and the risk of developing the disease. Indicators were age (p<0.001), history of gestational diabetes (p = 0.004), family history of diabetes (p<0.001), presence of hypertension (p< 0.001), physical inactivity (p<0.001) and overweight/obesity state (p=0.001). In Conclusion, using a simple practical tool consisting of a questionnaire is highly effective in uncovering undiagnosed T2D and PD. Early detection of PD and T2D is associated with tremendous health benefits including prevention of the irreversible diabetic complications and their dreaded quality-of-life altering effects.