Adaptation to lifestyle changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the lifestyle of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), proposed changes and patient compliance with these recommendations.
Patients and methods: We performed the “Diabetes Lifestyle Survey,” developed by us, face to face to 160 patients (59 males, 101 females; mean age 52.6±9.4 years) with type 2 DM who were inpatient or admitted to the Internal Medicine Clinic of Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital between June 1st, 2015 and August 30th, 2015.
Results: Mean body mass index was 29.2±6.4 for men and 33.5±13.0 for women. Thirty percent of all patients were taking only oral antidiabetic (OAD) treatment, 33.8% only insulin treatment, and 36.2% were taking both treatments. The average HbA1c value of the patients was determined to be 9.8±2.2, HDL value to be 40.3±1.2 mg/dL, LDL value to be 107.3±5.0 mg/dL and triglycerides value to be 201.8±9.3 mg/dL. Cardiovascular disease rate was 33.1% (n=53), hypertension rate 52.5% (n=84), retinopathy rate 40.6% (n=65), neuropathy rate 25% (n=40), diabetic foot ulcers rate 11.9% (n=19) and nephropathy rate was 15.6% (n=25). Seventy-nine patients had previously received training about diabetes. 28.8% of the patients were applying the medical nutrition therapy precisely. However, we found that 32.5% of the patients applied it irregularly and 32.5% did not apply it at all. 11.2% of the patients exercised every day, 10.0% three or four days a week, 8.8% one or two days a week, 2.5% once in two weeks while 15.6% did not do any exercise at all.
Conclusion: Our patients do not comply sufficiently to lifestyle changes. To achieve compliance, appropriate patient education environment should be established. Besides, physicians, nurses, dietitians, psychologists and other health professionals should work together with a multidisciplinary approach.