Lifestyle behaviours and associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes attending a diabetes clinic in Ningbo, China: A cross-sectional study

by Naomi Carter, Jialin Li, Miao Xu, Li Li, Shengnan Xu, Xuelan Fan, Shuyan Zhu, Prit Chahal, Kaushik Chattopadhyay

The burden of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in China is significant and growing, and this is reflected in high rates of T2DM in the city of Ningbo, China. Consequent impacts on morbidity, mortality, healthcare expenditure, and health-related quality of life, make this a problem of the utmost importance to address. One way to improve T2DM outcomes is to address lifestyle behaviours that may affect prognosis and complications, such as physical activity levels, dietary habits, smoking status, and alcohol intake. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to describe the prevalence of being physically active, having a healthy diet, currently smoking, and currently drinking alcohol among people living with T2DM attending a diabetes clinic in Ningbo, China. Regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with these lifestyle behaviours. We found a high prevalence of a healthy diet (97.8%, 95% CI 96.5–98.7%). Prevalence of being physically active (83.4%, 95% CI 80.6–85.9%), smoking (21.6%, 95% CI 18.8–24.6%), and alcohol drinking (32.9%. 95% CI 29.6–36.2%) appeared in keeping with those of the general population. Marked associations were demonstrated between male sex and smoking (OR 41.1, 95% CI 16.2–139.0), and male sex and alcohol drinking (OR 4.00, 95% CI 2.62–6.20). Correlation between lifestyle factors was demonstrated including between alcohol drinking and smoking, and between physical activity and reduced smoking. General diabetes self-management education programmes that address multiple lifestyle risk factors simultaneously may be beneficial in this population. Specific interventions targeting smoking cessation and reduction in alcohol drinking may be of benefit to men living with T2DM attending a diabetes clinic in Ningbo.