Diabetes Basics
Risk Test Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Why do we need to have a "risk test" at all? What purpose does it serve?
A. The risk test is a tool to help raise awareness about the seriousness of diabetes and its risk factors.
Q. Why aren't "symptoms" included in the "scoring" part of the risk test?
A. While some people with type 2 diabetes experience symptoms, others may go 7-10 years without obvious symptoms. Also, some of the symptoms for diabetes mimic other diseases or conditions, making it harder to predict an accurate diagnosis without additional information.
Symptoms are also difficult to define, quantify and assess in self-administered questionnaires and add little to a questionnai identify those at higher risk for undiagnosed diabetes.
Q. Since diabetes is more common in African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos and Pacific Islanders, why aren't these groups included in the risk factors for diabetes?
A. It is true that type 2 diabetes is more common in the above mentioned groups than in Caucasians. However, "race" or "ethnicity" alone is not a statistically significant predictor of diabetes. More important are the other factors such as age, overweight/obesity, and lack of exercise.
Q. What was the risk test based on?
A. The diabetes risk test was based on a thorough study about evaluating diabetes risk that was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control. The results of the study were published in the March 1995 issue of Diabetes Care.
