Level of physical activity in people with type-2 diabetes mellitus

Lifestyle has emerged as an important cause of major chronic diseases, such as type-2 diabetes mellitus, because it causes chronic physiological changes that tend to worsen as individual age. The study compared the level of physical activity performed by people with type-2 diabetes mellitus in basic care and specialized unit. Materials and Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with comparative analysis. Semi-structured questionnaires and the internationally validated Physical Activity questionnaire were applied, submitted and compared through statistical analysis with Pearson's chi-square and Student's t tests. Results: The average age of the users was 59 years, with predominance of females and those not engaging in physical activity. Glycemic values obtained by examining glycated hemoglobin were: 8.1% in a reference center and 9.6% in a basic health unit (p= 0.017), differentials of metabolic control and different care realities. Discussion: The level of physical activity, combined with changes in lifestyle and therapeutic adherence, is a fundamental part of diabetes control and prevention of complications and should be encouraged by health professionals. conclusions: Better performance was noted in the level of physical activity and better glycemic control of individuals monitored at a specialized center. Health education actions should be considered within the perspective of comprehensive care in the Health Care Network, regardless of the type of service, as potential for self-monitoring and control of diabetes mellitus.