LIFESTYLE OF PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

We evaluated the lifestyle of 214 patients with diabetes mellitus to deter- mine which aspects were affected by their disease and diabetic complications. Information concerning lifestyle was obtained from 15-item questionnaires, and a total lifestyle score (TLS) was calculated. Clinical characteristics including duration of diabetes, glycemic control, current treatment, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and macro- and microvas- cular complications were evaluated. Patients in their 40s had the lowest TLS, and lifestyle factors were strongly associated with glycemic control, ischemic heart disease, and with autonomic neuropathy. Subjects were also divided into two subgroups of equal size based on the median rate of TLS : an adequate lifestyle group and an inadequate lifestyle group. Although degree of excess in caloric intake was similar in these two groups, sodium intake was significantly higher in the inadequate lifestyle group than in the adequate lifestyle group.