Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
All Overweight Adults Should Have Blood Sugar Levels Tested, U.S. Task Force Urges
Reuters: U.S. Task Force Advises Blood Sugar Tests For Overweight Adults
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends blood sugar testing for all overweight adults ages 40 to 70 even if they don’t have symptoms of diabetes. Those with high blood sugar but not diabetes should be sent for intensive behavioral counseling to promote a healthy diet and exercise that may delay or prevent the disease, the Task Force says. (Doyle, 10/26)
NPR: Task Force Urges Screening Of Overweight Adults For High Blood Sugar
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now says all overweight and obese Americans between 40 and 70 years old should get their blood sugar levels tested. The advisory group's previous recommendation, drafted in 2008, made no mention of weight, instead suggesting that doctors routinely test the blood sugar of patients who have high blood pressure, another risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. (Bichell, 10/26)
