Effectiveness of mass screening for diabetes mellitus using random capillary blood glucose measurements

The results of 23 228 finger-prick capillary blood glucose tests (the taking of which was coordinated by the Diabetic Association of New South Wales) were reviewed. All non-diabetic persons (n = 860) with a blood glucose result of greater than or equal to 8.0 mmol/L were surveyed and 459 responded (53.4%). The responders were typical of the surveyed group with respect to age and capillary blood glucose level. Sixty-four new cases of diabetes were detected, representing 15.8% of the replies from persons who were not known to have diabetes and 0.28% of the total number of persons screened.