The factors that affect exercise therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan: a nationwide survey

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate important factors of exercise therapies for diabetes patients in Japan. Methods: Subjects were 5,100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Data from 3,685 patients (88.2 % effective answer rate) who answered the question whether they are performing exercise therapy or not by the questionnaire were analyzed. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the factors associated with exercise therapy in diabetes patients. Results: Exercise and non-exercise therapy groups had 1,926 and 1,759 patients, respectively. The HbA1c level of the exercise therapy group was significantly lower than that in the non-exercise therapy group. The multivariate odds ratios (ORs) of possible factors affecting the exercise therapy group adjusted for age, gender, BMI and living area were as follows: frequency of exercise therapy guidance [OR = 1.89, 95 % confidence interval = 1.40–2.56; reference group (ref.): no exercise therapy guidance], detailed exercise prescription such as type (1.32, 1.08–1.61), frequency (1.60, 1.24–2.06) and duration (1.63, 1.32–2.01; ref.: no exercise prescription), patients who enjoy physical exercise (4.85, 2.97–7.93; ref.: patients who dislike physical exercise) and high level of physical activity (2.31, 1.77–3.03; ref.: low level of physical activity). Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that, concerning exercise therapy education, it is important to maintain the motivation of the patients to participate in exercise therapies, to increase the frequency of guidance, and to provide more detailed exercise prescription such as frequency and duration. © 2014, The Japan Diabetes Society.