Point-of-care Capillary HbA1c Testing for Type 2 Diabetes Screening Among At-risk Individuals in Rural Dali, China

This project aims to compare Point-of-care capillary HbA1c (POC-cHbA1c) testing and fingerstick random blood glucose (RBG) testing in terms of type 2 diabetes detection rate and cost-effectiveness, in order to optimise current screening strategies for rural populations at high risk of diabetes in rural Dali, China, and to improve treatment adherence and self-management among people with diabetes.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18 years or above; * Permanent residents of Dali City who have lived locally for at least six consecutive months; * Registered as rural residents; * No known history of diabetes; * Meet at least one of the high-risk criteria for T2DM specified in the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes issued by the Chinese Diabetes Society; * Able to understand the study information and provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Known history of T2DM or currently receiving glucose-lowering treatment; * HbA1c testing with a clear result within the past three months, or completion of standardised diabetes screening within the past six months; * Pregnant or breastfeeding at the time of recruitment; * Active thyroid disease or other active endocrine disorders at recruitment, such as Cushing's syndrome or acromegaly; * Known haemoglobinopathy, severe anaemia, recent acute blood loss, or history of blood transfusion or blood donation within the past three months; * Currently receiving treatment that may substantially affect interpretation of HbA1c, such as erythropoietin therapy or recent high-dose iron therapy.