[Screening for type 2 diabetes is justified]

Screening for type II diabetes can be implemented opportunistically in primary care. Random blood glucose testing of people consulting in primary care, and at high risk of diabetes (i.e., those with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity, or diabetes heredity, and Asian and African immigrants), followed by annual monitoring, will detect approximately 60 per cent of cases of hitherto undetected diabetes. As the World Health Organisation has proposed a fasting blood glucose value of > 6.1 mmol/L as the cut-off level for diabetes, in primary care a random value of > 6.7 mmol/L would be an appropriate indicator for further examination. The age-group to be screened will depend on demographic criteria and the workload at the centre.