Endocrine Abstracts

T2DM is expected to rise to 552 million by 2030. DM is associated with complications which result in reduced quality of life and premature mortality.

T2DM has a long asymptomatic pre-clinical phase (~5–10 years) which frequently goes undetected. Benefits of early diagnosis on outcomes in screen-detected DM remain unclear. Some indirect evidence suggesting that early detection and intervention may be beneficial.

Screening for DM will identify individuals with intermediate hyperglycemia (IGT and IFG) who may benefit from interventions to prevent or delay DM and complications. Lifestyle changes can prevent or delay DM by up to 58% in people with prediabetes.

Libya has 6 million inhabitants with ~17% people with DM and about 24% if we add people with IFG in 2009. This is the first study in Libya screening for people with pre-diabetes.

Study aims: i) establishing screening program to prevent or delay DM. ii) identifying people at high risk of DM and with asymptomatic hyperglycemia. iii) encouraging people to have a risk assessment.

Four thousand non-diabetic individuals in the capital city of Tripoli (2.2 million inhabitants), age 45 years and above with conditions that increase risk of DM will be included. Risk assessment questionnaire followed by diagnostic blood tests will be used.

Venous blood tests will be offered to adult with high risk scores. If FBS <100 mg/dl or HbA1c of <6.0%, a brief intervention and weight loss program will be offered. High risk score and FBS of 100–126 mg/dl or HbA1c of 6.0–6.4%, information will be offered in their particular risk factors. People with possible T2DM, FBS of 126 mg/dl or above, or HbA1c of 6.5% or above, but no symptoms of T2DM, second blood test will be carried if type 2 diabetes is confirmed treatment will be offered.