title: Health status and health-related behaviors among type 2 diabetes community residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The standardized mortality rate of type 2 diabetes is higher in Taiwan than that in other developed countries. In Taiwan, the diabetes mortality rate in Chiayi County is the highest nationwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to explore the health status (to measure six physiological indicators), the health-related behaviors, and the associated factors among type 2 diabetes sufferers living in rural communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Researchers used a cross-sectional, correlation design and conducted the study at nine local health districts in Chiayi County, Taiwan. A total of 387 participants previously diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were randomly selected and invited to join in the program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine percent of participants were women; their mean age was 68.7 years, and their mean duration with diabetes was 7.9 years. Most were treated at local health centers and took oral medications (90.7%). More than 40% did not exercise regularly and 33.9% did not practice diet control. Results found a higher percentage of abnormal health indicators in terms of participant body mass index, waist circumference, HbA1C, and peripheral neurovascular function. After controlling for potential confounding factors, researchers found smaller waist circumference, participating in community support groups, better foot self-care capability, and frequent exercise to be associated with better health indicators. Diabetes duration, lower education, and being of male gender were found to be negatively associated with health status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that rural residents with diabetes do not adequately control their diabetes and exhibit inadequate health-related behavior. Joining community support groups, increasing exercise frequencies, and improving foot self-care capabilities should be employed in nursing strategies and health policies for diabetes control--especially for those who have less formal education or are male.
authors.affiliation: Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Chiayi campus, Taiwan. meiyen@gw.cgit.edu.tw
authors.forename: Mei-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Chao
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yun-Shing
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Ming-Chung
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jong
authors.forename: Chu-Yeh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hui-Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan