Screening for NIDDM: Opportunities for detection, treatment, and prevention

Although non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a common and serious disease, in the U. S. about half of the people with this disease are unaware of it. Approximately four million Americans 20–74 years of age have undiagnosed NIDDM (1), making this disease a candidate for early detection and treatment (2). I will present my views on the principles of screening as applied to NIDDM and on the benefits, costs, methods, and unanswered questions regarding the screening and diagnosis of this disease.