Conclusions HbA1c is neither sensitive nor specific for detecting pre‐diabetes ; fasting glucose is specific but not sensitive .
Interventions in people classified through screening as having pre‐diabetes have some efficacy in preventing or delaying onset of type 2 diabetes in trial population s. As screening is inaccurate , many people will receives an incorrect diagnosis and be referred on for interventions while others will be falsely reassured and not offered the intervention .
These findings suggest that “ screen and treat ” policies alone are unlikely to have substantial impact on the worsening epidemic of type 2 diabetes .
& NA ; Objectives To assess diagnostic accuracy of screening tests for  pre‐diabetes  and efficacy of interventions ( lifestyle or metformin ) in preventing onset of type 2 diabetes in people with pre‐diabetes .
Sustained reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes by lifestyle intervention: follow-up of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study
BACKGROUND Lifestyle interventions can prevent the deterioration of impaired glucose tolerance to manifest type 2 diabetes , at least as long as the intervention continues . In the extended follow-up of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study , we assessed the extent to which the originally-achieved lifestyle changes and risk reduction remain after discontinuation of active counselling . METHODS Overweight , middle-aged men ( n=172 ) and women ( n=350 ) with impaired glucose tolerance were r and omly assigned to intensive lifestyle intervention or control group . After a median of 4 years of active intervention period , participants who were still free of diabetes were further followed up for a median of 3 years , with median total follow-up of 7 years . Diabetes incidence , bodyweight , physical activity , and dietary intakes of fat , saturated fat , and fibre were measured . FINDINGS During the total follow-up , the incidence of type 2 diabetes was 4.3 and 7.4 per 100 person-years in the intervention and control group , respectively ( log-rank test p=0.0001 ) , indicating 43 % reduction in relative risk . The risk reduction was related to the success in achieving the intervention goals of weight loss , reduced intake of total and saturated fat and increased intake of dietary fibre , and increased physical activity . Beneficial lifestyle changes achieved by participants in the intervention group were maintained after the discontinuation of the intervention , and the corresponding incidence rates during the post-intervention follow-up were 4.6 and 7.2 ( p=0.0401 ) , indicating 36 % reduction in relative risk . INTERPRETATION Lifestyle intervention in people at high risk for type 2 diabetes result ed in sustained lifestyle changes and a reduction in diabetes incidence , which remained after the individual lifestyle counselling was stopped
Conclusions HbA1c is neither sensitive nor specific for detecting pre‐diabetes ; fasting glucose is specific but not sensitive .
Interventions in people classified through screening as having pre‐diabetes have some efficacy in preventing or delaying onset of type 2 diabetes in trial population s. As screening is inaccurate , many people will receives an incorrect diagnosis and be referred on for interventions while others will be falsely reassured and not offered the intervention .
These findings suggest that “ screen and treat ” policies alone are unlikely to have substantial impact on the worsening epidemic of type 2 diabetes .
& NA ; Objectives To assess diagnostic accuracy of screening tests for  pre‐diabetes  and efficacy of interventions ( lifestyle or metformin ) in preventing onset of type 2 diabetes in people with pre‐diabetes .