Health-promoting behaviors among adults with type 2 diabetes: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study

Background. Type 2 diabetes has an enormous impact on the health care syste m and individuals. Dietary habits, exercise, weight management, and smoking status are critical to management and prevention of complications. This st udy describes the prevalence of these behaviors and their change over time in a national sample of adults with type 2 diabetes. The relationships betw een behavior change and sociodemographic and health status measures are exp lored. Methods. Data are from the first and third longitudinal waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Surveys were conducted face-to-face or via telephone in 1992 and 1996. Results. The sample consisted of 733 persons with type 2 diabetes, ages 50- 62. The most common behaviors were being on a special diet (79.6%), and not smoking (76.6%). Sixty-six percent were engaged in some physical activity, and 58.4% were trying to lose weight. Reports of being on a special diet, trying to lose weight, and exercising all diminished over time. Conclusions. The prevalence of these behaviors is disappointing. Worse, the y declined over the 4-year period. A better understanding of factors contri buting to a person's decision to begin or discontinue health-promoting beha viors is needed to plan effective supportive or preemptive interventions. ( C) 2000 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.