Physical activity and quality of life in patients with type II diabetes mellitus

Background: Type II diabetes, a major healthcare issue, is a common chronic disease in Taiwan that affects the quality of life of sufferers. Purpose: To understand the physical activity status and the quality of life of patients with type II diabetes mellitus and to explore the related predictors of quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to collect relevant data between January to October 2014 from a regional teaching hospital in Taipei. One hundred patients with type II diabetes were included as participants. The seven-day physical activity recall scale and the SF-36 were used to collect data. Result: (1) Forty-two percent of the participants had engaged in no habitual exercise during the prior seven days and had engaged primarily in mildly strenuous activities. (2) The quality of life of the participants was moderate. Patient age (r = −.231, p <.05) and education level (r =.279, p <.01) were significantly correlated with the physical component of quality of life. A significant difference was found between levels of HbA1c and the physical (t = -2.595, p <.05) and mental (t = -2.522, p <.05) components of quality of life. (3) The number of hospitalizations attributable to diabetes (r = −.256, p <.05) and diabetes with a comorbidity (t = 3.29, p =.042) were significantly associated with the physical component of quality of life. (4) Physical activity was significantly and negatively correlated with the mental component of quality of life (r = -.205, p <.05), but physical activity was not significantly correlated with the other components of quality of life (p >.05). (5) The number of hospitalizations due to diabetes was a significant predictor of quality of life, explaining 14.5% and 5.5% of the physical and mental components of quality of life, respectively. Conclusion: Good control of blood glucose was shown to promote quality of life in the type II diabetes mellitus patients in this study. The findings may be referenced and applied in clinical practice.