Increasing Type 2 Diabetes Screening and Treatment Rates at a Community Clinic

Background: Although type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes are widespread conditions affecting many people across the United States, they often remain undiagnosed due to the lack of screening processes in primary care. Underdiagnosis of these conditions can lead to disease progression and poor outcomes. Objective: A clinical practice change was implemented at a community clinic to improve screening rates and provide earlier patient treatment by implementing a systematic screening and treatment protocol into the current workflow. Methods: The existing clinic flow was adjusted to reflect updated screening guidelines by the American Diabetes Association. The clinic providers were trained on implementing this change and complied with the new process until project completion. Results: Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data. The results were as follows: 32 patients were screened for diabetes, totaling a screening rate of 39.51%; in addition, 2.46% of patients were diagnosed with T2DM, and 4.96% were identified as prediabetic. As a result, 100% of the patients identified received standard-of-care treatment. Conclusions: This clinical practice change increased screening rates and impacted early identification and treatment of T2DM and prediabetes. The clinical facility will continue implementing this standard of care within its daily routine. Implications for Nursing: Systematic screening protocols positively impact screening rates and patient care.