The Effectiveness of a Proactive, Three-Level Strategy to Identify People With Prediabetes in a Large Workforce With Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance.

Objective: Rates of diagnosis of prediabetes and uptake of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) are low. We evaluated a proactive three-level strategy to identify individuals with prediabetes in a population with employer-sponsored health insurance.

Research Design And Methods: We studied 64,131 insured employees, dependents, and retirees ≥18 years of age without diagnosed diabetes, 19,397 (30%) of whom were estimated to have prediabetes. Individuals with prediabetes were identified by ) searching claims diagnoses and previously performed HbA test results, ) risk stratifying people 40-64 years of age without diabetes, prediabetes, or documented normal HbA to identify individuals at higher risk and encourage them to be tested, and ) using a media campaign to encourage employees not otherwise targeted to self-screen and, if at higher risk, to be tested.

Results: Using claims and laboratory data, 11% of the population was identified as having prediabetes. Of those 40-64 years of age, 25% were identified as being at higher risk, and 27% of them were tested or diagnosed within 1 year. Of employees exposed to the media campaign, 14% were tested or diagnosed within 1 year. Individuals with prediabetes were older, heavier, and more likely to have hypertension and dyslipidemia. Testing and diagnosis were associated with receiving medical care and provider outreach. A total of 8,129 individuals, or 42% of those with prediabetes, were identified.

Conclusions: Analysis of existing health insurance data facilitated the identification of individuals with prediabetes. Better identification of people with prediabetes is a first step in increasing uptake of the NDPP.