RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Examining the Incidence of Pre Diabetes in Belize JF American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science JO Clin Lab Sci FD American Society of Chemistry and Laboratory Science SP ascls.118.000174 DO 10.29074/ascls.118.000174 A1 Jeanne M Isabel YR 2018 UL http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/early/2018/04/25/ascls.118.000174.abstract AB Abstract This research included diabetes screening assessment for a population in Belize that may not have ready access to testing. Data gathered on gender, age and ethnicity was correlated with measurement of waist circumference and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The investigator used a point of care screening test for HbA1c to determine whether individuals fell within the normal range, the prediabetes range or diabetic range. A random selection of participants in the Belmopan region were tested. Analysis of the data indicated that 33.1% of the population tested in the prediabetes range for HbA1c. This percentage should be a concern to health care personnel in Belize who may have limited resources for diabetes management of patients. An equally concerning finding is the number of participants in the diabetes range, 8.5%, who had not been previously diagnosed. Diabetes education and screening is essential to the health and wellbeing of the people of Belize.