Poor Control of Blood Glucose, Lifestyle, and Cardiometabolic Parameters in Younger Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes self-management and its related factors among Chinese young adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

To explore the status quo of self-management among young adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the determinants of self-management under the guidance of social cognitive theory.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

In total, 227 young adults (18-44 years old) with T2DM at two hospitals in Beijing completed the questionnaires. The Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities (SDSCA) was used, along with additional questionnaires about diabetes self-efficacy, attitude, diabetes distress, diabetes knowledge, coping styles and social support. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were used to explore the related factors of self-management among the young patients.

RESULTS

The scores for the SDSCA in diet, exercise, blood-glucose testing, foot care and medication taking were (4.16 ± 1.51), (3.46 ± 2.50), (2.28 ± 2.24), (1.08 ± 1.84) and (6.09 ± 1.88), respectively. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that fasting blood-glucose value was significantly associated with self-management behaviours of diet, exercise, blood-glucose testing and medication taking. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with self-management behaviours of diet, exercise and foot care. Diabetes distress, diabetes-related social activity, confrontation, education, duration of T2DM, treatment modalities and diabetes knowledge were associated with the one or two dimensions of SDSCA in the young adults with T2DM.

Habitual Physical Activity and Diabetes Control in Young and Older Adults with Type II Diabetes: A Longitudinal Correlational Study

This study aimed to determine whether daily physical activity in young and older adults with T2DM is associated with diabetes control. A prospective correlational study involving 206 young (≤65 years) and older (>65 years) adults was conducted. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess their daily physical activity levels. Patients’ mean HbA1c level was 7.8% (±1.4), and 95.9% of patients had unsatisfactory diabetes control. Performing more minutes per week of moderate-intensity daily physical activity was associated with a lower risk of glycemia in both young and older adults. Furthermore, moderate daily physical activity significantly lowered the risk of glycemia. Health personnel must encourage patients to engage in moderate daily physical activities to improve diabetes control.

Trends in the Prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Future Predictions in Korean Men, 1998-2035

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a serious health concern as it can progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatoma. We investigated past trends in the prevalence of NAFLD and related factors among Korean men and women from 1998 to 2017 and predicted their future prevalence among Korean men. We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I–VII (KNHANES). NAFLD was defined as a hepatic steatosis index of >36. Subjects with viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, cancer, pregnancy, and a habit of drinking ≥30 g alcohol per occasion were excluded. We evaluated the prevalence trends of NAFLD, obesity, abdominal obesity, high fat intake, and low physical activity in each KNHANES wave. For future prevalence predictions, average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) were estimated from the joinpoint model. In men, NAFLD prevalence has increased by approximately 11 percentage points in the past 19 years, reaching 30.7% in wave VII. Prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, high fat intake, and low physical activity also increased. The AAPC of NAFLD prevalence was 2.3% per year, and the estimated NAFLD prevalence in 2030 and 2035 was 39.1% and 43.8%, respectively. The forecasted prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, and high fat intake among Korean men in 2035 was 65.0%, 52.2%, and 23.5%, respectively. The estimated future prevalence of NAFLD and related factors was considerably high in the younger age group (19–45 year). In women, NAFLD prevalence has increased by approximately three percentage points in the past 19 years; however, this increase was not significant in the multivariate analysis. Public strategies to manage obesity, abdominal obesity, and unhealthy lifestyles are needed to prevent NAFLD.