title: Validation of a counseling strategy to promote the adoption and the maintenance of physical activity by type 2 diabetic subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is enough evidence that physical activity is an effective therapeutic tool in the management of type 2 diabetes. The present study was designed to validate a counseling strategy that could be used by physicians in their daily outpatient practice to promote the adoption and maintenance of physical activity by type 2 diabetic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The long-term (2-year) efficacy of the behavioral approach (n = 182) was compared with usual care treatment (n = 158) in two matched, randomized groups of patients with type 2 diabetes who had been referred to our Outpatient Diabetes Center. The outcome of the intervention was consistent patient achievement of an energy expenditure of >10 metabolic equivalents (METs)-h/week through voluntary physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 2 years, 69% of the patients in the intervention group (27.1 +/- 2.0 METs x h/week) and 18% of the control group (4.1 +/- 0.8 METs x h/week) achieved the target (P < 0.001) with significant (P < 0.001) improvements in BMI (intervention group 28.9 +/- 0.2 versus control group 30.4 +/- 0.3 kg/m(2)) and HbA(1c) (intervention group 7.0 +/- 0.1 versus control group 7.6 +/- 0.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This randomized, controlled study shows that physicians can motivate most patients with type 2 diabetes to exercise long-term and emphasizes the value of individual behavioral approaches in daily practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section Internal Medicine, Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Loreto
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lucidi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murdolo
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Cicco
authors.forename: Natascia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parlanti
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santeusanio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Feo
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010819:Physician's Role
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin