Type 2 diabetes risk screening in dental practice settings: a pilot study

Background Dental surgeries are highlighted in the 2012 NICE guidance Preventing type 2 diabetes: risk identification and interventions for individuals at high risk as a suitable setting in which to encourage people to have a type 2 diabetes risk assessment. Aim To assess the feasibility of implementing a type 2 diabetes risk screening pathway in dental settings using the NICE guidance tool. Method The study was carried out over two weeks in June 2013. The validated tool in the NICE guidance was used to determine risk. This included a questionnaire and BMI measurement used to determine a risk score. Patients were rated low, increased, moderate or high risk. All patients were given written advice on healthy lifestyle. Patients who were moderate or high risk were referred to their general medical practitioners for further investigation. Participating dental teams were asked to nominate a member who would be responsible for overseeing the screening and training the other team members. Results A total of 166 patients took part in the pilot (58% male, 75% aged 49 years or younger and 77% were from BME groups). Twenty-six low risk patients (15.7%), 61 increased risk patients (36.7%), 49 moderate-risk patients (29.5%) and 30 high-risk patients (18.1%) were identified during the pilot. Fifteen of the 49 patients (30.6%) identified as moderate-risk and 6 of the 30 high-risk patients (20%) had visited their GP to discuss their type 2 diabetes risk in response to the screening. Conclusion The pilot suggests that people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes could be identified in primary, community and secondary dental care settings. The main challenges facing dental staff were time constraints, limited manpower and the low number of patients who visited their GP for further advice.