Relationship between diet, exercise habits, and health status among patients with diabetes

Campbell, Heather M.; Khan, Nasreen; Cone, Catherine; Raisch, Dennis W.

doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2010.03.002

« Previous Next »Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
Volume 7, Issue 2 , Pages 151-161, June 2011

Relationship between diet, exercise habits, and health status among patients with diabetes

Heather M. Campbell, Pharm.D.
- VA Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Nasreen Khan, Ph.D.
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 505 272 5294; fax: +1 505 272 6749.
Catherine Cone, Pharm.D., B.C.P.S.
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Dennis W. Raisch, Ph.D.
- VA Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA

published online 10 May 2010.

Abstract

Background

The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes should engage in physical activity and healthy eating. Similarly, diets rich in fruits or vegetables (5-13 servings) have been found to lower the risk of stroke, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and diabetes.

Objectives

To examine the associations between eating fruits and vegetables and exercising on physical/mental health among diabetes patients. A secondary objective was to describe the relationship between socioeconomic status and physical/mental health. Finally, we used the Health Belief Model (HBM) to help providers understand how they can work best with their patients to implement healthy lifestyle.

Methods

The 2005 Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used to determine the relationship between eating fruits/vegetables and exercise on physical and mental health. The sample was restricted to individuals who self-reported being diagnosed with diabetes (N=33,320) in 2005. Eating fruits and vegetables was categorized by the number of fruit and vegetable servings consumed daily (0, 1-2, 3-4, and ≥5). Poisson regression was used to assess these associations.

Results

Only 26% of individuals ate 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables, whereas only 33% met exercise recommendations. Individuals who ate 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables reported better mental health but poor physical health. Compared with meeting exercise recommendations, no exercise was associated with more days of poor physical/mental health.

Conclusions

Reinforcement of daily exercise is helpful to patients with diabetes (PWDS); meeting exercise recommendations was associated with better outcomes of physical and mental health. Pharmacists and other public health providers should focus on interventions that incorporate the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The HBM can be used to improve health behavior among PWDS. Pharmacists are in a unique position to advocate change with consistent access to care.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Health behavior, Fruit, Vegetables, Exercise