A PILOT DIABETES AWARENESS AND EXERCISE PROGRAM IN A MULTIETHNIC WORKFORCE

Aims, To evaluate the acceptability and impact of a pilot diabetes awa reness and exercise programme in a mainly Polynesian workforce. Method . Comparison of change in questionnaire and anthropometric measurement s in two hospital ancillary workforces. One group (n=108) received one community diabetes educator presentation, one video presentation and a 4 month exercise programme. The other group (n=99) served as control s. Results, Baseline diabetes knowledge was poor (total score 26 CSD 1 3%)) and subjects were largely unfit with a high body mass index (31.5 (7.1) kg/m(-2)). The exercise sessions were well attended, although a ttendance declined over the 4 months. Increased diabetes knowledge was retained in the intervention group after 6 months when compared with controls (total score 35 (14) % vs 26 (12) % respectively, p < 0.001). One month after the termination of the programme, the proportion repo rting regular exercise activity (at least 30 minutes for 3 days per we ek) had increased by 2 % in the intervention group but declined by 9 % in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions, Diabetes knowledge and exercise can be increased in unfit subjects by the combination of cult urally tailored exercise techniques and community diabetes educator/vi deo presentations.