ESSA announces joint position statement on the importance of prediabetes screening and management

Today Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is proud to announce a joint position statement on the Screening and Management of Prediabetes in Adults in Primary Care in Australia.

Prediabetes is a metabolic condition characterised by elevated blood glucose which doesn’t meet the diagnostic criteria for diabetes.

One in six Australian adults older than 25 years of age have prediabetes, and without intervention, approximately 33% will develop type 2 diabetes within a decade. Also, those with prediabetes are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those without prediabetes.

Alongside the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA), the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), it is ESSA’s joint position that early detection of prediabetes represents a vital step for initiating proactive intervention and support strategies to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and associated comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease.

“There is good evidence to implement intensive, structured lifestyle interventions for individuals with impaired glucose tolerance. The evidence for those with impaired fasting glucose or elevated glycated haemoglobin is less clear, but individuals should still be provided with generalised healthy lifestyle strategies,” explains author, Brett Gordon from La Trobe University.

“A multidisciplinary approach is recommended to implement healthy lifestyle changes through education, nutrition and physical activity. Physical activity and exercise should be used to facilitate weight maintenance and reduce blood glucose. Moderate-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise and resistance training should be prescribed by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, where possible.”

Prediabetes has a high prevalence, with early detection essential to facilitate optimal management to prevent the development of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This joint position statement outlines the approaches to screening and management of prediabetes in primary care.

“This joint position statement provided a great opportunity for like-minded organisations working within the prediabetes space to collaborate and ESSA would like to formally acknowledge and thank the Australian Diabetes Society (ADS), the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA), the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) for their time and dedication to this important document.”

“We look forward to observing the impact of implementing this joint position statement.”

Click here to access the Position Statement on Screening and Management of Prediabetes in Adults in Primary Care in Australia.