Random blood glucose screening at a public health station encouraged high risk subjects to make lifestyle changes.

BACKGROUND: Screening and early diagnosis of prediabetes and diabetes can prevent or delay disease onset and complications. To that end, a free public health station was established in a large, government medical centre. This study evaluated the long-term outcomes of abnormal random blood glucose results among patients with no history of diabetes or prediabetes.

METHODS: The Diabetes Unit supervised a public dysglycaemia and hypertension screening station. Participants with blood glucose >140 mg/dL and no history of diabetes or prediabetes were contacted by telephone for follow-up.

RESULTS: Among screened subjects, 868 (average age 57.5±12 years) had a random blood glucose level >140 mg/dL and 341 (39.3%) responded to the telephone survey. Of these, 313 (91.8%) subsequently had fasting blood glucose measured at their health maintenance organisation (HMO), of which 101 (32.3%) were abnormal. A total of 173 (51%) respondents initiated interventions: 59 (17.3%) antidiabetic treatment; 145 (42.5%) sugar-restricted diet; and 96 (28.2%) a physical activity programme. Of patients with abnormal fasting blood glucose, 17 (14.5%) reported having had this result previously compared with 9 (4.2%) with normal fasting glucose (P=.001). Among respondents, 216 (63.3%) stated the screening was effective and 273 (80.1%) would recommend it.

CONCLUSION: The station was effective in promoting additional screening among high-risk age groups and encourages subjects to make lifestyle changes. Operating the screening station is simple and effective; therefore it may serve as a complementary step in promoting community healthcare.