Screening for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The purpose of this project was to implement a diabetic screening program for early detection of diabetes using American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE, 2015) screening guidelines in an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) managed convenient care clinic. Asymptomatic adults were offered A1C screening if they were aged \u3e45 or those aged \u3e18 with one or more risk factor which included obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), metabolic syndrome, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, chronic glucocorticoid exposure, history of a sleep disorder, sedentary lifestyle, and those on antipsychotic therapy. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, standard deviations, and means provided the data needed to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes, a logistic regression determined the strength of associated risk factors. Prediabetes was found in 32% of patients. The strongest predictors for diabetes were those who were aged \u3e45, male gender, and family history of diabetes. Using evidence-based standards to guide nursing interventions improved quality of care. Screening for diabetes in a convenient care setting positively impacted this underserved rural population. It offered the opportunity for adequate diabetic screening and early detection and treatment of prediabetes