Diabetes Diagnosis Is Not Associated With Lifestyle Behaviors In Peri- And Post- menopausal Women

PURPOSE: There is an increasing prevalence of pre- and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnoses in Canada and globally. In addition, DM is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the most common cause of mortality in those with DM. Improving lifestyle behaviors (e.g., physical activity, diet, weight management) is a key component of DM management and CVD-risk reduction. However, a lack of time, support, and additional burdens are cited as common barriers to healthy lifestyle behaviors among women. This study aimed to examine the association between DM diagnosis and healthy lifestyle behaviors in older women compared to older women without DM. METHODS: Peri- and post-menopausal women ≥50 years without CVD were recruited across Ontario, Canada. Pre- and type 2 DM diagnoses were self-reported and combined in the DM group. Waist circumference and body weight were measured virtually with mailed tools, and daily fruit/vegetable intake was determined from a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), step count and sedentary time were measured by physical activity watches worn continuously for 4-7 days. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association of DM status and lifestyle variables. Models were adjusted for ethnicity, income, body mass index and calorie intake. RESULTS: To date, 78 women have enrolled, 46 with DM (age 60 ± 5.8 y, BMI 31.8 ± 7.4 kg/m2), and 32 without DM (age 61 ± 6.0 y, BMI 33.8 ± 8.4 kg/m2). Overall, both groups had moderate MVPA but otherwise poor lifestyle behaviors on average (DM: 167 min MVPA/wk, 12.4 h sedentary time/day, 6798 steps/day, 1.9 times/day fruit/vegetable intake, 100 cm waist circumference; without DM: 166 min MVPA/wk, 12.8 h sedentary time/day, 7084 steps/day, 1.5 times/day fruit/vegetable intake, 105 cm waist circumference). In the adjusted model, DM diagnosis was not associated with waist circumference, fruit/vegetable intake, MVPA, sedentary time, or step count (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: A pre- or type 2 DM diagnosis in older women did not appear to impact healthy lifestyle behaviors compared to women without a DM diagnosis. There is a need for novel and feasible methods of improving healthy lifestyle behaviors to support women pre- and post-DM diagnosis that consider barriers to uptake. Supported by CCS and CIHR