Identifying adults who should be screened for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is asymptomatic in the early stages. As a result, diagnosis may be delayed and complications associated with diabetes are often present at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, screening is recommended in people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK)1 can be used to identify adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes who should be screened. The tool should be used to assess risk every 3 years in non-Indigenous adults over the age of 40 years. The AUSDRISK tool considers the patient’s age, sex, ethnicity, family history of diabetes, elevated blood pressure requiring current treatment, history of elevated blood glucose concentration, smoking status, dietary habits, level of physical activity and central adiposity.

Note: Use the AUSDRISK tool every 3 years in non-Indigenous adults over the age of 40 years, to identify who is at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the age of 18 years should be screened for type 2 diabetes annually. The AUSDRISK tool is of limited benefit in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since they are already at high risk of type 2 diabetes. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with:

  • previous impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance
  • a history of gestational diabetes
  • polycystic ovary syndrome
  • cardiovascular disease
  • current antipsychotic use.
Note: Screen for type 2 diabetes annually in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the age of 18 years.
1 Australian type 2 diabetes risk assessment tool (AUSDRISK). Canberra: Australian Department of Health and Ageing; 2010. URLReturn