I love anything that is quick, simple, and reliable. Who doesn’t, right?
Hence, I was very curious to test the online prediabetes risk test that is making headlines.
What is Prediabetes?
People with prediabetes have higher levels of blood sugar, but not to the extent of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that half of the people with prediabetes end up with type 2 diabetes.
DoIHavePrediabetes
A web-based platform for prediabetes risk assessment is available here. This seven-question test is advocated by the American Medical Association (AMA), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the Ad Council. A score above 5/10 puts a person at greater risk for prediabetes.
However, a study paper published on Monday is stirring the pot regarding the practicality of this online test. According to the study, nearly 60% of the participants above the age of 40 and 80% of those older than 60 who filled out the questionnaire were at high risk of prediabetes. One of the authors of the study, Dr. Saeid Shahraz, is concerned about the number of false positives the test may generate.
“It [the test] falsely identifies a big majority of the population as having prediabetes while they are in fact normal,” stressed the author.
However, not everyone agrees with him. Some health experts believe that this test helps to narrow the number of people who are at risk for prediabetes.
“A valid method to examine for prediabetes should avoid unnecessary medicalization by labeling a disease predecessor as a medical condition and seek to concentrate on people at highest risk to allow for efficient distribution of limited health care resources,” shared the authors of the study.
My Thoughts
Online quizzes are no doubt a quick and simple way to assess a person’s risk of diabetes. However, people need to keep in mind that they are not tools used to diagnose diabetes.
What I love about these simple questionnaires is that they can serve as a wake-up call for some people. Diabetes is a chronic disease that is closely related to lifestyle and diet, both of which everyone is capable of improving. Knowing the risk beforehand may prompt some people to take early actions before it is too late.
My Final Say: A great way to educate people on the risk factors for diabetes but do not serve as a diagnosis tool.
