Physical activity pattern and life style habits among rural and urban diabetic subjects

Abstract

The present study was carried out at Fatehabad district of Haryana State to study physical activity pattern and life style habits among rural and urban diabetic subjects. Two hundred subjects (male and female) between the age of 40-60 years and who were suffering from non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) for more than 6 months or above were selected randomly on the basis of their medical report (fasting and post prandial blood glucose level) from various Government and Private hospitals. It was observed that highest per cent of rural as well as urban respondents reported onset of diabetes between the age of 41-50 years. Most of the respondents (47% rural and 40% urban) had been suffering from diabetes for last 6-10 years. Majority (42% rural and 48% urban) had fasting blood glucose between 121-200 mg/100ml. Average fasting blood glucose was 166.51mg/100ml. Eight per cent of rural and fifteen per cent of urban respondents depicted very poor control and had post prandial blood glucose more than 300 mg/100ml.Majority (66 per cent of rural and 89 per cent of urban respondents) were involved in sedentary occupation and were not spending time (54% rural and 35% urban) on any kind of exercise. Fifty-four per cent of rural respondents and 63 per cent of urban respondents had family history of diabetes. Of the total, 26 per cent of rural and 17 per cent of urban respondents were consuming alcohol. Thirty-six per cent of rural and 18 per cent of urban respondents were regular smokers. It can be concluded that urban respondents are maintaining healthier eating habits, healthier lifestyle and are also showing better management of blood sugar control as compared to rural counterparts. There is need of more awareness in both rural and urban areas for better management of diabetes.