What does this research mean for the field?

A community pharmacy-based point-of-care HbA1c testing pathway doubles engagement with digital diabetes prevention programmes compared to standard GP-based identification in underserved populations. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community pharmacy HbA1c testing for early detection of prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

May 18, 2026Diabetic MedicineOpen Access

Detection of prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in underserved communities using community pharmacy point‐of‐care testing: A prospective feasibility study

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (n=1450). Intervention: Pharmacy-based point-of-care HbA1c testing pathway vs. GP-based identification. Primary outcome: Engagement with a digital diabetes prevention programme (DPP) (RR 2.08, 95% CI 1.61-2.67).

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Key result

Pharmacy-based HbA1c testing is linked to ~2-fold higher digital diabetes prevention program engagement vs GP referral.

RR 2.08
95% CI 1.61-2.67
n=1,450

Why the study?

Does a pharmacy-based point-of-care HbA1c testing pathway improve detection of prediabetes and engagement with a digital prevention programme compared to GP-based identification in high-risk adults?

Population

Adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes, identified using the Diabetes UK 'Know Your Risk' tool.

Comparison

Pharmacy-based pathway using verified… vs General Practitioner patients identified for…

Design

Cohort

Authors

ARAndrew RadleyUniversity of Dundee LBLewis BeerNinewells Hospital AFA. FarreUniversity of Dundee

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Community pharmacy-based point-of-care HbA1c testing effectively identifies prediabetes and undiagnosed T2D in underserved populations, doubling engagement with digital prevention programs compared to standard GP pathways.

Key Points

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community pharmacy HbA1c testing for early detection of prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
Conducted a prospective feasibility study across 16 community pharmacies in NHS Tayside from February 2024 to January 2025.
Used the Diabetes UK ‘Know Your Risk’ tool to identify high-risk adults for HbA1c testing.
Referral pathways were established for participants based on HbA1c results.
Out of 499 participants, 75 (15%) were identified with prediabetes, with 38 (51%) enrolling in the diabetes prevention programme.
Nineteen (4%) had HbA1c ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%), and 17 attended their GP for further care.
Pharmacy-based recruitment doubled DDP engagement compared to GP-identified prediabetes (RR 2.08, 95% CI 1.61–2.67).

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=1,450)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does a pharmacy-based point-of-care HbA1c testing pathway improve detection of prediabetes and engagement with a digital prevention programme compared to GP-based identification in high-risk adults?

Population

1,450 adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes, comparing a prospective pharmacy-based HbA1c testing pathway (n=499) to a GP-identified cohort (n=951).

Exposure

Pharmacy-based pathway using verified point-of-care HbA1c testing with direct referral to a digital diabetes prevention programme (DPP) for those with prediabetes (HbA1c 42-47 mmol/mol).

Comparator

General Practitioner (GP) patients identified for engagement with the same digital diabetes prevention programme.

Outcome

Detection rates for prediabetes and undiagnosed T2D, and engagement with a digital prevention programme.

Main Result

Relative Risk: 2.08 (95% CI 1.61–2.67)

Absolute Event Rate: 51% vs 32%

Cite This Study

Radley et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (n=1,450). Pharmacy-based point-of-care HbA1c testing pathway vs. GP-based identification was evaluated on Engagement with a digital diabetes prevention programme (DPP) (RR 2.08, 95% CI 1.61-2.67). A community pharmacy-based HbA1c testing pathway doubled engagement with a digital diabetes prevention program compared to GP-based identification (51% vs 32%; RR 2.08; 95% CI 1.61-2.67).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0aace55ba8ef6d83b70464 https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.70368

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Detection of prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in underserved communities using community pharmacy point‐of‐care testing: A prospective feasibility study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Cite This Study

Detection of prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in underserved communities using community pharmacy point‐of‐care testing: A prospective feasibility study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider