Characteristics of men and women with diabetes: observations during patients' initial visit to a diabetes education centre.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether men and women with type 2 diabetes have different psychosocial, behavioural, and clinical characteristics at the time of their first visit to a diabetes education centre.


METHODS
A questionnaire on psychosocial and behavioural characteristics was administered at participants' first appointments. Clinical and disease-related data were collected from their medical records. Bivariate analyses (chi(2) test, t test, and Mann-Whitney test) were conducted to examine differences between men and women on the various characteristics.


METHODS
Two diabetes education centres in the greater Toronto area in Ontario.


METHODS
A total of 275 men and women with type 2 diabetes.


RESULTS
Women were more likely to have a family history of diabetes,previous diabetes education, and higher expectations of the benefits of self-management. Women reported higher levels of social support from their diabetes health care team than men did, and had more depressive symptoms, higher body mass, and higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than men did.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study provide evidence that diabetes prevention, care, and education need to be targeted to men and women differently. Primary care providers should encourage men to attend diabetes self-management education sessions and emphasize the benefits of self-care. Primary care providers should promote regular diabetes screening and primary prevention to women, particularly women with a family history of diabetes or a high body mass index; emphasize the importance of weight management for those with and without diabetes; and screen diabetic women for depressive symptoms.
Gucciardi
Enza
E
School of Nutrition, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3. egucciar@ryerson.ca
Wang
Shirley Chi-Tyan
SC
DeMelo
Margaret
M
Amaral
Lina
L
Stewart
Donna E
DE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004494:Education Department, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin