USPSTF Recommendation and Implementation for Prevention and treatment for Diabetes and Obesity
The U.S. Preventive Services Task force is an independent group of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that works to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications.

2 out of 3 people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke1.

According to the CDC, up to
20%
of deaths are from heart attack

and
13%
of deaths from strokes are related to diabetes or prediabetes
Evidence- Based Recommendations
The following conclusions were reached by the USPSTF after a thorough review of current scientific research
For prevention and treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Intensive lifestyle and pharmacotherapeutic interventions reduce the progression of prediabetes to diabetes.
- Delaying the onset of diabetes would substantially reduce the incidence of vascular complications, improve quality of life, and avoid future medical costs 1.
- Several recent observational studies and a meta-analysis suggest an association between chronic hyperglycemia and cardiovascular disease and stroke 2-5.
- If a screening program was implemented to target persons at risk for diabetes, subsequent treatment for persons with impaired glucose tolerance with lifestyle or pharmacologic interventions is a good use of resources 1.
For prevention and treatment of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
Recommends screening all adults for obesity. Persons with a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher should be referred to an intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions.
- Evidence shows that intensive programs that include a variety of activities are successful in helping people manage their weight. These programs:
- Include 12 to 26 sessions in the first year
- Include group and/or individual sessions
- Help people make healthy eating choices
- Include physical activity
- Address issues that make it difficult to change behaviors
- Help people monitor their own behaviors
- Help people develop strategies to maintain healthy eating and physical activity
of adults have been told to improve their health by physicians
of adults monitor their blood pressure
of Americans need to improve their heart health
of people don’t believe they’re at risk from heart disease
of Americans make no effort to improve cardiovascular health
of Americans believe prevention is possible but take no steps towards it
of adults have no idea what their cholesterol or blood pressure numbers are
Sources
- 1. Waugh N, Scotland G, McNamee P, Gillett M, Brennan A, Goyder E, et al. Screening for type 2 diabetes: literature review and economic modelling. Health Technol Assess 2007;11:iii-iv, ix-xi, 1-125. [PMID: 17462167]
- 2. Selvin E, Coresh J, Shahar E, Zhang L, Steffes M, Sharrett AR. Glycaemia (haemoglobin A1c) and incident ischaemic stroke: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Lancet Neurol 2005;4:821-6. [PMID: 16297840]
- 3. Selvin E, Coresh J, Golden SH, Brancati FL, Folsom AR, Steffes MW. Glycemic control and coronary heart disease risk in persons with and without diabetes: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:1910-6. [PMID: 16157837]
- 4. Selvin E, Marinopoulos S, Berkenblit G, Rami T, Brancati FL, Powe NR, et al. Meta-analysis: glycosylated hemoglobin and cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus. Ann Intern Med 2004;141:421-31. [PMID: 15381515]
- 5. Stettler C, Allemann S, Juni P, Cull CA, Holman RR, Egger M, et al. Glycemic control and macrovascular disease in types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus: meta-analysis of randomized trials. Am Heart J 2006;152:27-38. [PMID: 16824829]