Diabetes screening activities, July 1958 to June 1963

W HILE ESTIMATES of the prevalence W of unsuspected diabetes vary according to the source of data and differences, in definitions, there remains no doubt that public health workers face a problem of considerable magnitude in identifying such cases. Current estimates, considered conservative by some workers, point toward 2 million unknown cases in the United States. Since the disease can be treated and controlled, identification and referral of these persons to private physicians are impoirtant to the patient, his family, and the community because serious complications sometimes occur with diabetes that can drain both family and community resources. Diabetes screlening has been a part of public health activities for some ye,ars. Both blood testing and urine testing have been used. Blood testing is preferred since it is a more sensitive test at any given level of specificity. Greater numbers of persons are being tested for diabetes now than in previous years.