ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS AMONG TYPE-2 DIABETES MELLITUS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: The primary driver of the epidemic of diabetes is the rapid epidemiological transition associated with changes in dietary patterns and decreased physical activity as evident from the higher prevalence of diabetes in urban population. Diabetes mellitus is increasing at an alarming rate in India. It is evident that physical activity (walking) is beneficial in management of this disease. Walking can be effective in reducing weight, body mass index, waist hip circumference, body fat, blood pressure and thus cholesterol, high density lipoproteins ratio and may be effective in improving mood and quality of life. The objective of the present study was measuring the normal physical activity in terms of step counts done by the type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and analyse the dietary pattern followed by T2DM.
Methods: Eighty adults with type-2 diabetes mellitus were randomly allocated for observation of their normal daily physical activity using pedometer for whole day which means starting from early morning get up till bedtime in night. The subjects had been asked to count their steps in a particular activity also.
Results: The mean value of step count with standard deviation among females (n=31) was found to be 9173.23 ± 3862.025 which was lesser than that among males (n=49) that is 9695.49 ± 5221.291. After measuring step count in any particular activity task, the mean value 2583.35 ± 2562.08 was found to be more in males than females where mean value was found to be 2197.13 ± 1732.75. The mean step count among total sample (n=80) was 9493.11 ± 4721.626 and mean particular activity step count was 2433.69 ± 2272.541.
Discussion: This study showed that some subjects were so aware of their disease that they were found to be highly active after knowing their disease and condition. On other hand, there were some subjects having sedentary lifestyle with their HbA1c at the high risk level. They thought it to be as it is for the rest of their life that it is incurable so this study helps them to make aware of the modified lifestyles and dietary habits with which they can control their glucose level, cholesterol by having a routine of some physical activity.
Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that physical activity among the subjects with Type II diabetes was very low and it supports the clinically proven facts by other studies that more the physical activities, more is the control in blood sugar level and cholesterol level in subjects with Type II diabetes.