Awareness of the role of exercises for glucose control in persons with type II diabetes in India: a cross-sectional study

Neha Mukkamala, Shivanee Javiya, G Palani Kumar
Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the awareness about exercises in blood glucose control in persons with diabetes. The secondary objective was to see how many persons with diabetes actually exercised to control their blood glucose values.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 persons with diabetes coming to a tertiary care hospital from December ‘23 to August ‘24. Persons with diabetes mellitus, aged 40 to 70 years, newly or already diagnosed, were included in the study. Persons with type I diabetes, hemodynamically unstable patients and persons with cognitive dysfunction were excluded. A questionnaire on the awareness of exercises in diabetes was drafted in English as well as the local languages and validated by five subject experts. Persons with diabetes who visited the medical or physiotherapy OPD as well as those who were admitted to the hospital wards were administered the questionnaire on a one-to-one basis. 

Results:

The mean age of 100 persons with diabetes was 54.42±11.8 years. There were 36 females and 64 males in the study. Their mean BMI was 25.03±4.29 kg/m2. The mean duration of diabetes was 74.02 months (range 1 to 264 months). Hundred percent were unaware that low to moderate level of aerobic activity or resisted exercises could control blood glucose levels. Hundred percent were unaware that replacing sedentary behavior with light walking could improve glucose levels.  Ninety one percent were not doing any kind of exercises for blood glucose management. Only 18% were aware that regular walking/jogging could decrease glucose levels. Only 9% persons with diabetes were exercising to control glucose levels.




Conclusion(s):

The study revealed that majority of persons with diabetes were not aware of the role of exercises in controlling glucose levels. Very few persons with diabetes were exercising to control glucose levels.

Implications:

Although exercises play a major role in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, persons affected by it are unaware of the role of exercises in controlling blood glucose. The common person needs to be educated regarding the benefits of exercise in preventing and treating diabetes and associated co-morbidities. A National Policy needs to be framed to bring about mass awareness about the importance of regular exercises in preventing and managing diabetes.

Funding acknowledgements:
This was a self-funded study.
Keywords:
Type II diabetes
Exercises
Awareness
Primary topic:
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and risk factors
Second topic:
Health promotion and wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Institutional Ethics Committee
Provide the ethics approval number:
(SVIEC/ON/Phys/MPT00123/11)
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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