Diabetes Screening

What it is:

If you have diabetes, your body doesn't make enough insulin or it does not respond to insulin like it should. Insulin is a hormone that changes sugar, starches and other food into the energy you need for daily life. If you don’t have enough insulin, your blood sugar will be too high. A high blood sugar level is not good for your health.

Blood tests can find diabetes. Medicare covers what is called a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test.

Why screening is important:

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Millions of people have diabetes and do not know it. If you have diabetes and your doctor finds it early, he or she may be able to prevent or delay the serious health problems diabetes can cause.

Who is covered:

People with any of the following risk factors are covered for this screening:

  • High blood pressure,
  • Dyslipidemia (history of abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels),
  • A history of high blood sugar

How often it’s covered:

The screening is generally covered up to twice a year. Ask your doctor how to get this screening.

What you pay:

You pay nothing for this service.

Learn more about diabetes screening on Medicare.gov

 

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Information on this web site was compiled from approved materials of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.