[Screening for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes--methodological concerns and feasibility in Hungary]

It is well documented that type 2 diabetes often has a long and latent pathogenetic process before its manifestation; even patients with short duration of diabetes can be asymptomatic. At these stages, patients with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes can be identified by screening. Several screening procedures have been developed; however, risk-stratified screening method is the most accepted worldwide. Risk-stratified screening implies two stages, starting with the selection of people at higher risk. At the second stage, blood glucose measurement should be carried out. For selection of subjects at higher risk, the FINDRISC (Finnish Diabetes Risk Score) questionnaire proved to be useful in different settings. Based upon the results of a screening procedure, early treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and primary prevention of diabetes in subjects with prediabetes can be performed. All these activities can lead to a decrease of prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes. Similarly to other countries, all these concerns should be addressed within a frame of a new National Diabetes Programme in Hungary.