USPSTF and ISPAD Guidelines on Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

The rising trends of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes in adults are worrisome globally. The majority of antecedents to adult non-communicable diseases begin in childhood. Type 2 diabetes is recognized as one of the major diseases that contribute to the NCD burden in childhood. Recently, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) released their guidelines on diagnosis and management of prediabetes and diabetes in children targeted screening for youth-onset type 2 diabetes is suggested in at-risk children (obese, positive family history of type 2 diabetes, etc.), while the role of screening asymptomatic children is not substantiated. Obesity and insulin resistance are important risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The cutoffs of fasting plasma glucose for the diagnosis of prediabetes and diabetes are >100 to 125 and ≥126 mg/dL, respectively. This update briefly summarizes the recommendations on screening for youth-onset prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.