Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2008
AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION
D iabetes is a chronic illness that re-quires continuing medical care andpatient self-management education
to prevent acute complications and to re-
duce the risk of long-term complications.
Diabetes care is complex and requires that
many issues, beyond glycemic control, be
addressed. A large body of evidence exists
that supports a range of interventions to
improve diabetes outcomes.
These standards of care are intended
to provide clinicians, patients, research-
ers, payors, and other interested individ-
uals with the components of diabetes
care, treatment goals, and tools to evalu-
ate the quality of care. While individual
preferences, comorbidities, and other pa-
tient factors may require modification of
goals, targets that are desirable for most
patients with diabetes are provided.
These standards are not intended to pre-
clude more extensive evaluation and
management of the patient by other spe-
cialists as needed. For more detailed in-
formation, refer to refs. 1–3.
The recommendations included are
screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic ac-
tions that are known or believed to favor-
ably affect health outcomes of patients
with diabetes. A grading system (Table 1),
developed by the American Diabetes As-
sociation (ADA) and modeled after exist-
ing methods, was utilized to clarify and
codify the evidence that forms the basis
for the recommendations. The level of ev-
idence that supports each recommenda-
tion is listed after each recommendation
using the letters A, B, C, or E.
I. CLASSIFICATION AND
DIAGNOSIS
A. Classification
In 1997, ADA issued new diagnostic and
classification criteria (4); in 2003, modi-
ficationsweremade regarding the diagno-
sis of impaired fasting glucose (5). The
classification of diabetes includes four
clinical classes:
● Type 1 diabetes (results from �-cell de-
struction, usually leading to absolute
insulin deficiency)
● Type 2 diabetes (results from a progres-
sive insulin secretory defect on the
background of insulin resistance)
● Other specific types of diabetes due to
other causes, e.g., genetic defects in
�-cell function, genetic defects in insu-
lin action, diseases of the exocrine pan-
creas (such as cystic fibrosis), and drug-
or chemical-induced (such as in the
treatment of AIDS or after organ trans-
plantation)
● Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
(diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy)
Some patients cannot be clearly classified
as type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Clinical pre-
sentation and disease progression vary
considerably in both types of diabetes.
Occasionally, patients who otherwise
have type 2 diabetes may present with ke-
toacidosis. Similarly, patients with type 1
may have a late onset and slow (but re-
lentless) progression of disease despite
having features of autoimmune disease.
Such difficulties in diagnosismay occur in
children, adolescents, and adults. The true
diagnosis may becomemore obvious over
time.
B. Diagnosis of diabetes
Recommendations
● The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test is
the preferred test to diagnose diabetes
in children and nonpregnant adults. (E)
● Use of the A1C for the diagnosis of di-
abetes is not recommended at this time.
(E)
Criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes in
nonpregnant adults are shown in Table 2.
Three ways to diagnose diabetes are avail-
able, and each must be confirmed on a
subsequent day unless unequivocal
symptoms of hyperglycemia are present.
Although the 75-g oral glucose tolerance
test (OGTT) is more sensitive and mod-
estly more specific than the FPG to diag-
nose diabetes, it is poorly reproducible
and difficult to perform in practice. Be-
cause of ease of use, acceptability to pa-
tients, and lower cost, the FPG is the
preferred diagnostic test. Although the
FPG is less sensitive than the OGTT, the
vast majority of people who do not meet
diagnostic criteria for diabetes by the FPG
but would by the OGTT will have an A1C
value well below 7.0% (6).
Although the OGTT is not recom-
mended for routine clinical use, it may be
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The recommendations in this article are based on the evidence reviewed in the following publication:
Standards of care for diabetes (Technical Review). Diabetes Care 17:1514–1522, 1994.
Originally approved 1988. Most recent review/revision, October 2007.
Abbreviations: ABI, ankle-brachial index; ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; ADAG, A1C-Derived
Average Glucose; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; CAD, coronary artery disease; CBG, capillary blood
glucose; CHD, coronary heart disease; CHF, congestive heart failure; CKD, chronic kidney disease; CMS,
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; CSII, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion; CVD, cardio-
vascular disease; DCCT, Diabetes Control and Complications Trial; DKA, diabetic ketoacidosis; DMMP,
diabetes medical management plan; DPN, distal symmetric polyneuropathy; DPP, Diabetes Prevention
Program; DRS, Diabetic Retinopathy Study; DSME, diabetes self-management education; DSMT, diabetes
self-management training; eAG, estimated average glucose; ECG, electrocardiogram; EDIC, Epidemiology of
Diabetes Interventions and Complications; ERP, education recognition program; ESRD, end-stage renal
disease; ETDRS, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; FPG,
fasting plasma glucose; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; ICU, intensive
care unit; IFG, impaired fasting glucose; IGT, impaired glucose tolerance; MICU, medical ICU; MNT,
medical nutrition therapy; NDEP, National Diabetes Education Program; NPDR, nonproliferative diabetic
retinopathy; OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test; PAD, peripheral arterial disease; PDR, proliferative diabetic
retinopathy; PPG, postprandial plasma glucose; RAS, renin-angiotensin system; RDA, recommended dietary
allowance; SICU, surgical ICU; SMBG, self-monitoring of blood glucose; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone;
TZD, thiazolidinedione; UKPDS, U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study.
DOI: 10.2337/dc08-S012
© 2008 by the American Diabetes Association.
P O S I T I O N S T A T E M E N T
S12 DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 31, SUPPLEMENT 1, JANUARY 2008
useful for further evaluation of patients in
whom diabetes is still strongly suspected
but who have normal FPG or impaired
fasting glucose (IFG) (see Section 1.C).
Due to lack of evidence on prognostic
significance and diagnostic thresholds,
the use of the A1C for the diagnosis of
diabetes is not recommended at this time.
C. Diagnosis of pre-diabetes
Hyperglycemia not sufficient to meet the
diagnostic criteria for diabetes is catego-
rized as either IFG or impaired glucose
tolerance (IGT), depending on whether it
is identified through the FPG or the
OGTT:
● IFG � FPG 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/l) to
125 mg/dl (6.9 mmol/l)
● IGT � 2-h plasma glucose 140 mg/dl
(7.8 mmol/l) to 199 mg/dl (11.0
mmol/l)
IFG and IGT have been officially termed
“pre-diabetes.” Both categories of pre-
diabetes are risk factors for future diabetes
and for cardiovascular disease (CVD) (7).
II. TESTING FOR PRE-
DIABETES AND DIABETES
IN ASYMPTOMATIC
PATIENTS
Recommendations
● Testing to detect pre-diabetes and type
2 diabetes in asymptomatic people
should be considered in adults who are
overweight or obese (BMI �25 kg/m2)
and who have one or more additional
risk factors for diabetes (Table 3). In
those without these risk factors, testing
should begin at age 45. (B)
● If tests are normal, repeat testing should
be carried out at least at 3-year inter-
vals. (E)
● To test for pre-diabetes or diabetes, ei-
ther an FPG test or a 2-h OGTT (75-g
glucose load) or both are appropriate.
(B)
● An OGTT may be considered in pa-
tients with IFG to better define the risk
of diabetes. (E)
● In those identified with pre-diabetes,
identify and, if appropriate, treat other
CVD risk factors. (B)
For many illnesses, there is a major dis-
tinction between screening and diagnos-
tic testing. However, for diabetes, the
same tests would be used for “screening”
as for diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes has a
long asymptomatic phase and significant
clinical risk markers. Diabetes may be
identified anywhere along a spectrum of
clinical scenarios ranging from a seem-
ingly low-risk individual who happens to
have glucose testing, to a higher-risk in-
dividual who the provider tests because of
high suspicion of diabetes, to the symp-
tomatic patient. The discussion herein is
primarily framed as testing for diabetes in
those without symptoms. Testing for dia-
betes will also detect individuals with pre-
diabetes.
A. Testing for pre-diabetes and type
2 diabetes in adults
Type 2 diabetes is frequently not diag-
nosed until complications appear, and
approximately one-third of all people
with diabetes may be undiagnosed. Al-
though the effectiveness of early identifi-
cation of pre-diabetes and diabetes
Table 1—ADA evidence-grading system for clinical practice recommendations
Level of
evidence Description
A Clear evidence from well-conducted, generalizable, randomized controlled
trials that are adequately powered, including:
● Evidence from a well-conducted multicenter trial
● Evidence from a meta-analysis that incorporated quality ratings in the
analysis
Compelling nonexperimental evidence, i.e., “all or none” rule developed
by the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at Oxford
Supportive evidence from well-conducted randomized controlled trials
that are adequately powered, including:
● Evidence from a well-conducted trial at one or more institutions
● Evidence from a meta-analysis that incorporated quality ratings in the
analysis
B Supportive evidence from well-conducted cohort studies, including:
● Evidence from a well-conducted prospective cohort study or registry
● Evidence from a well-conducted meta-analysis of cohort studies
Supportive evidence from a well-conducted case-control study
C Supportive evidence from poorly controlled or uncontrolled studies,
including:
● Evidence from randomized clinical trials with one or more major or
three or more minor methodological flaws that could invalidate the
results
● Evidence from observational studies with high potential for bias (such
as case series with comparison with historical controls)
● Evidence from case series or case reports
Conflicting evidence with the weight of evidence supporting the
recommendation
E Expert consensus or clinical experience
Table 2—Criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes
1. FPG �126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l). Fasting is defined as no caloric intake for at
least 8 h.*
OR
2. Symptoms of hyperglycemia and a casual plasma glucose �200 mg/dl (11.1
mmol/l). Casual is defined as any time of day without regard to time since last
meal. The classic symptoms of hyperglycemia include polyuria, polydipsia, and
unexplained weight loss.
OR
3. 2-h plasma glucose �200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) during an OGTT. The test
should be performed as described by the World Health Organization, using a
glucose load containing the equivalent of 75 g anhydrous glucose dissolved in
water.*
*In the absence of unequivocal hyperglycemia, these criteria should be confirmed by repeat testing on a
different day (5).
Position Statement
DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 31, SUPPLEMENT 1, JANUARY 2008 S13
through mass testing of asymptomatic in-
dividuals has not been definitively proven
(and rigorous trials to provide such proof
are unlikely to occur), pre-diabetes and
diabetes meet established criteria for con-
ditions in which early detection is appro-
priate. Both conditions are common,
increasing in prevalence, and impose sig-
nificant public health burdens. There is a
long presymptomatic phase before the di-
agnosis of type 2 diabetes is usually made.
Relatively simple tests are available to de-
tect preclinical disease (8). Additionally,
the duration of glycemic burden is a
strong predictor of adverse outcomes,
and effective interventions exist to pre-
vent progression of pre-diabetes to diabe-
tes (see Section IV) and to reduce risk of
complications of diabetes (see Section VI).
Recommendations for testing for pre-
diabetes and diabetes in asymptomatic,
undiagnosed adults are listed in Table 3.
Testing should be considered in all adults
with BMI �25 kg/m2 and one or more
risk factors for diabetes. Because age is a
major risk factor for diabetes, testing of
those without other risk factors should
begin no later than age 45.
Either FPG testing or the 2-h OGTT is
appropriate for testing. The 2-h OGTT
identifies people with either IFG or IGT
and, thus, more prediabetic people at in-
creased risk for the development of dia-
betes and CVD. It should be noted that
the two tests do not necessarily detect the
same prediabetic individuals (9). The ef-
ficacy of interventions for primary pre-
vention of type 2 diabetes (10–16) has
primarily been demonstrated among in-
dividuals with IGT, not among individu-
als with IFG (who do not also have IGT).
As noted in the diagnosis section (I.B), the
FPG test is more convenient, more repro-
ducible, less costly, and easier to admin-
ister than the 2-h OGTT (4,5). An OGTT
may be useful in patients with IFG to bet-
ter define the risk of diabetes.
The appropriate interval between
tests is not known (17). The rationale for
the 3-year interval is that false negatives
will be repeated before substantial time
elapses, and there is little likelihood that
an individual will develop significant
complications of diabetes within 3 years
of a negative test result.
Because of the need for follow-up and
discussion of abnormal results, testing
should be carried out within the health
care setting. Community screening out-
side a health care setting is not recom-
mended because people with positive
tests may not seek appropriate follow-up
testing and care, and, conversely, there
may be failure to ensure appropriate re-
peat testing for individuals who test neg-
ative. Community screening may also be
poorly targeted, i.e., it may fail to reach
the groups most at risk and inappropri-
ately test those at low risk (the worried
well) or even those already diagnosed
(18,19).
B. Testing for type 2 diabetes in
children
The incidence of type 2 diabetes in ado-
lescents has increased dramatically in the
last decade, especially in minority popu-
lations (20), although the disease remains
rare in the general population (21). Con-
sistent with recommendations for adults,
children and youth at increased risk for
the presence or the development of type 2
diabetes should be tested (22). The rec-
ommendations of the ADA consensus
statement on type 2 diabetes in children
and youth are summarized in Table 4.
C. Screening for type 1 diabetes
Generally, people with type 1 diabetes
present with acute symptoms of diabetes
and markedly elevated blood glucose lev-
els, and most cases are diagnosed soon
after the onset of hyperglycemia. Wide-
spread clinical testing of asymptomatic
individuals for the presence of autoanti-
bodies related to type 1 diabetes cannot
currently be recommended as a means to
identify individuals at risk, for several rea-
sons: 1) cutoff values for the immune
marker assays have not been completely
established or standardized for clinical
settings; 2) there is no consensus as to
what follow-up testing should be under-
taken when a positive autoantibody test
result is obtained; and 3) because the in-
cidence of type 1 diabetes is low, testing of
healthy individuals will identify only a
very small number (�0.5%) who at that
moment may be “prediabetic.” Finally,
though clinical studies are being con-
ducted to test various methods of pre-
venting type 1 diabetes in high-risk
individuals, no effective intervention has
yet been identified. If studies uncover an
effective means of preventing type 1 dia-
betes, targeted screening (e.g., siblings of
type 1 children)may be appropriate in the
future.
Table 3—Criteria for testing for pre-diabetes and diabetes in asymptomatic adult individuals
1. Testing should be considered in all adults who are overweight (BMI �25 kg/m2*) and
have additional risk factors:
● physical inactivity
● first-degree relative with diabetes
● members of a high-risk ethnic population (e.g., African American, Latino, Native
American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander)
● women who delivered a baby weighing �9 lb or were diagnosed with GDM
● hypertension (�140/90 mmHg or on therapy for hypertension)
● HDL cholesterol level �35 mg/dl (0.90 mmol/l) and/or a triglyceride level �250
mg/dl (2.82 mmol/l)
● women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
● IGT or IFG on previous testing
● other clinical conditions associated with insulin resistance (e.g., severe obesity
and acanthosis nigricans)
● history of CVD
2. In the absence of the above criteria, testing for pre-diabetes and diabetes should begin
at age 45 years
3. If results are normal, testing should be repeated at least at 3-year intervals, with
consideration of more frequent testing depending on initial results and risk status.
*At-risk BMI may be lower in some ethnic groups.
Table 4—Testing for type 2 diabetes in
asymptomatic children
Criteria
● Overweight (BMI �85th percentile for
age and sex, weight for height �85th
percentile, or weight �120% of ideal for
height)
Plus any two of the following risk factors:
● Family history of type 2 diabetes in first-
or second-degree relative
● Race/ethnicity (e.g., Native American,
African American, Latino, Asian American,
and Pacific Islander)
● Signs of insulin resistance or conditions
associated with insulin resistance (e.g.,
acanthosis nigricans, hypertension,
dyslipidemia, or PCOS)
● Maternal history of diabetes or GDM
Age of initiation: age 10 years or at onset of
puberty, if puberty occurs at a younger age
Frequency: every 2 years
Test: FPG preferred
Standards of Medical Care
S14 DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 31, SUPPLEMENT 1, JANUARY 2008
III. DETECTION AND
DIAGNOSIS OF
GESTATIONAL DIABETES
MELLITUS (GDM)
Recommendations
● Screen for GDM using risk factor anal-
ysis and, if appropriate, use of an
OGTT. (C)
● Women with GDM should be screened
for diabetes 6–12 weeks postpartum
and should be followed up with subse-
quent screening for the development of
diabetes or pre-diabetes. (E)
Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as
any degree of glucose intolerancewith on-
set or first recognition during pregnancy
(4). Although most cases resolve with de-
livery, the definition applies whether or
not the condition persists after pregnancy
and does not exclude the possibility that
unrecognized glucose intolerance may
have antedated or begun concomitantly
with the pregnancy. Approximately 7% of
all pregnancies (ranging from 1 to 14%
depending on the population studied and
the diagnostic tests used) are complicated
by GDM, resulting in more than 200,000
cases annually.
Because of the risks of GDM to the
mother and neonate, screening and diag-
nosis are warranted. The screening and
diagnostic strategies, based on the 2004
ADA position statement on gestational di-
abetesmellitus (23), are outlined inTable 5.
Results of the Hyperglycemia and Ad-
verse Pregnancy Outcomes study were re-
ported at ADA’s 67th Annual Scientific
Sessions in June 2007. This large-scale
(�25,000 pregnant women), multi-
national, epidemiologic study demon-
strated that risk of adverse maternal, fetal,
and neonatal outcomes continuously in-
creased as a function ofmaternal glycemia
at 24–28 weeks, even within ranges pre-
viously considered normal for pregnancy.
For most complications, there was no
threshold for risk. These results may call
for careful reconsideration of the diagnos-
tic criteria for GDM.
Because women with a history of
GDM have a greatly increased subsequent
risk for diabetes (24), they should be
screened for diabetes 6–12 weeks post-
partum, using standard criteria, and
should be followed up with subsequent
screening for the development of