Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes affects over 4 million people in France and represents a growing public health challenge. Early detection of prediabetes through blood glucose measurement can help prevent progression to type 2 diabetes. The French National Authority for Health (HAS) recommends screening every three years for individuals with one risk factor, and more frequently for those with multiple risk factors or elevated fasting glucose. However, type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed late—28% of patients are identified only once complications requiring hospitalization have already occurred. In comparison, the UK’s NHS Health Check program invites individuals aged 40-74 for a health assessment every five years, including diabetes screening. This study aims to encourage over-the-counter blood glucose screening following a FINDRISC assessment to better target at-risk individuals, and to demonstrate the clinical and medico-economic benefits of this approach.
METHODS: A health economic evaluation was conducted using literature review, internal French Cerba data, Biol’AM database insights, grey literature, and medico-economic modeling to estimate the financial impact of expanded screening.
RESULTS: The target population includes 24 million individuals, with 4.3 million confirmed cases and an average age of 68 (55% male). The annual cost of diabetes management is estimated at €10.1 billion. Modeling indicates that reducing diabetes-related hospitalizations by just 10% through earlier detection could generate €398 million in savings over ten years, even after accounting for screening costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a systematic diabetes screening program using the FINDRISC questionnaire, combined with over-the-counter testing for high-risk individuals, can significantly enhance early detection. Tailored SMS reminders—annually for prediabetic patients, quarterly for diabetic patients, and within three months following an abnormal result—ensure timely follow-up and diagnosis confirmation. This proactive approach has the potential to substantially reduce the overall burden of diabetes.