Diabetes Awareness among Healthy Americans

Are people more likely to adopt healthy behaviors if they know their diabetes risk?…

A recent study focused on whether or not diabetes-free Americans were more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors after being informed of their diabetes risk. Healthy lifestyle behaviors included weight control, physical activity, and reduction in intake of fat and calories in the diet.

The study examined a large population representing the national average of Americans. Subjects (N=5073) were drawn from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Researchers utilized data to determine if diabetes-free non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) and Mexican-Americans (MA) were more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors after being informed of their diabetes risk.

Researchers found that being informed of diabetes risk resulted in increased adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors by all three population groups examined, with an odds ratio of 2.38 for NHW, 2.46 for NHB, and 2.27 for MA diabetes-free individuals. Healthy lifestyle behaviors were adopted in a greater percentage of those informed of their diabetes risk as compared to those not informed of the risk in all groups (NHW: 22.7% vs. 10.2%, NHB: 42.5% vs. 14.1%, MA: 31% vs. 13.9%).

The findings indicate that more Americans should be made aware of their diabetes risk.

Practice Pearls:

• Type 2 diabetes may be prevented by lifestyle changes such as increases in physical activity, weight loss, and improved diet control.
• Higher percentages of healthy Americans who are informed of their diabetes risk adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors as compared to those who are not informed of their diabetes risk.
• More Americans should be made aware of their diabetes risk.

 [Okosun, et al. Awareness of diabetes risks is associated with healthy lifestyle behavior in diabetes free American adults: Evidence from a nationally representative sample. Primary Care Diabetes. 2012;6:87-94.]