Aim: Diabetes mellitus is a major chronic disease that increases morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early recognition and effective management of the prediabetic period are of great importance in preventing the progression of this condition. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of prediabetes among individuals attending a Family Health Center using fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels, and to evaluate the effectiveness of prediabetes screening practices in primary care by comparing the findings with the existing literature.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included individuals aged ≥18 years who attended the İzmir Karabağlar Unit 13 Family Health Center between August 2022 and August 2023. Prediabetes was defined according to the 2024 American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria as HbA1c levels between 5.7–6.4%, and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) as fasting plasma glucose between 100–125 mg/dL. Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c data were obtained from patient medical records. Individuals with a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and pregnant women were excluded from the study. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.

Results: The prevalence of prediabetes was 15.85%, while the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 9.21% (n=186). The prevalence of prediabetes was 21.46 % in women and 11.09% in men. The meanage of the participants was 52.82±12.10 years, the mean HbA1c was 5.93±2.89%, and the mean fasting plasma glucose was 100.02±11.32 mg/dL. HbA1c levels were available for 89.3% of patients diagnosed with prediabetes, and fasting plasma glucose values were available for all. Among those with prediabetes, 58.15% also met the criteria for IFG.

Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of prediabetes was found to be lower than national estimates. This discrepancy may be explained by the absence of Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) in primary care, which may have led tounder diagnosis in some cases. The findings highlight the limitations of relying solely on fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c measurements in primary care and emphasize the importance of referring high-risk individuals for OGTT in higher-level health care facilities..