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Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes screening

Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms for years. The USPSTF gives screening adults 35 to 70 with overweight or obesity a grade B. (USPSTF, 2021)

USPSTF grade
B
Who
All adults, if at risk
Ages
35 to 70
How often
Every 3 years

When it starts, when it can stop

Who it is for

Adults aged 35 to 70 years without symptoms who have overweight or obesity. A BMI of 23 or more may be the right cut point for Asian American adults. (USPSTF, 2021)

In My Screening Plan this shows up when you tick: Overweight or obesity (BMI 25 or more; 23 or more if Asian American).

Test and how often

  • Tests: fasting plasma glucose, A1c, or an oral glucose tolerance test. (USPSTF, 2021)
  • If results are normal, screening every 3 years may be reasonable. (USPSTF, 2021)
  • The USPSTF says clinicians should consider screening earlier in groups with higher rates of diabetes: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Black, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander adults. (USPSTF, 2021)

Diabetes screening by age: USPSTF and ADA compared

Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes screening: USPSTF 2021 and ADA Standards of Care 2026
WhoUSPSTF (2021)ADA (2026)
Adults under 35 with overweight or obesityConsider earlier screening in groups with higher diabetes ratesConsider testing at any age with one or more risk factors
Adults 35 to 70 with overweight or obesityScreen (grade B)Screen
Adults 35 and older without overweightNot part of the recommendationScreen from 35
After a normal resultEvery 3 years may be reasonableRepeat at least every 3 years
People with prediabetesOffer or refer to a prevention programTest every year

The main difference is body weight. The USPSTF recommendation covers adults 35 to 70 who have overweight or obesity. The ADA Standards of Care 2026 start screening for everyone at 35, and earlier for adults with overweight or obesity plus at least one risk factor. (USPSTF, 2021) (ADA, 2026)

Both use a 3-year gap after a normal result. The ADA adds a yearly test for people who already have prediabetes. (USPSTF, 2021) (ADA, 2026)

Your doctor can tell you which advice fits you and which blood test to use.

With a BMI of 30 or higher, the USPSTF also recommends an intensive weight-loss program built on diet and activity. Read more: weight-loss programs for a BMI of 30 or higher.

What the results mean: see the American Diabetes Association ranges for A1c and fasting glucose on Know your numbers.

Questions people ask

Who should be screened for prediabetes and diabetes?

Adults 35 to 70 who have overweight (a BMI of 25 or more) or obesity (30 or more) and no symptoms. For Asian American adults the USPSTF suggests a lower BMI cut point of 23. (USPSTF, 2021)

How often should you be screened for diabetes?

The USPSTF says the best interval after a normal result is uncertain, and that every 3 years may be a reasonable approach. (USPSTF, 2021)

What tests are used?

A fasting plasma glucose test, an A1c test, or an oral glucose tolerance test. What the results mean is on Know your numbers. Read more: Know your numbers. (USPSTF, 2021)

Should some people be screened before 35?

The USPSTF says to consider screening at an earlier age for American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander adults, and at a lower BMI for Asian American adults. (USPSTF, 2021)

What happens if the test shows prediabetes?

The USPSTF says clinicians should offer or refer people with prediabetes to effective preventive interventions. It notes that lifestyle programs focused on diet, physical activity or both, and the medicine metformin, have been shown to prevent or delay diabetes in people with prediabetes. (USPSTF, 2021)

Does Medicare pay for diabetes screening?

Medicare Part B covers up to 2 diabetes screenings a year if your doctor finds you at risk: for example with high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, obesity or past high blood sugar, or with 2 of these: age 65 or older, overweight, a parent or sibling with diabetes, or past gestational diabetes or a baby over 9 pounds. You pay nothing if the provider accepts assignment. (Medicare.gov)

Should I get a diabetes test at 35 if my weight is healthy?

The USPSTF recommendation only covers adults with overweight or obesity, so it does not address this. The ADA Standards of Care 2026 say screening should begin at 35 for everyone not already tested earlier because of risk factors. Ask your doctor. (USPSTF, 2021) (ADA, 2026)

Why do the USPSTF and the ADA say different things?

They are separate groups with their own evidence reviews. The USPSTF statement dates from August 2021 and is limited to adults with overweight or obesity. The ADA updates its Standards of Care every year, and the 2026 edition screens all adults from 35. (USPSTF, 2021) (ADA, 2026)

How often should I be tested if I have prediabetes?

Every year, according to the ADA Standards of Care 2026. The USPSTF focuses on offering or referring people with prediabetes to programs that prevent or delay diabetes, and does not set a retest interval for them. (ADA, 2026) (USPSTF, 2021)

Is there an upper age limit for diabetes screening?

The USPSTF grade B range ends at 70. Medicare Part B can still cover up to 2 screenings a year when your doctor finds you at risk, and being 65 or older counts as one of its risk factors. (USPSTF, 2021) (Medicare.gov)

Source

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, "Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Screening", final recommendation released August 24, 2021. Read it on uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Checked against the live page on 2026-10-28.

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