Current Situation of Diet and Exercise Therapy in Terms of Medical Consultations in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Japan: A Nationwide Survey

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the present situation of diet and exercise therapy associated with medical consultations in diabetes patients in Japan. The subjects included 5,100 patients with diabetes mellitus. A self-recorded questionnaire was distributed and collected at out-patient clinics and medical institutions specialized in diabetes. Responses were obtained from a total of 4,176 of the 5,100 patients with diabetes mellitus. The rate of exercise guidance was significantly lower than that of dietary guidance. Dietary guidance was given mostly by dietitians, while exercise guidance was conducted chiefly by physicians. The rate of implementation of exercise therapy was almost 50 %. As to the responses to the questions, "why did you not perform the exercise therapy" and "what factors are necessary to continue the exercise therapy," most participants answered a "lack of time to engage in physical exercise." The physically active patients showed lower HbA1c levels. In conclusion, the frequency of exercise guidance was significantly low in this study, and there were large differences in the rates of dietary versus exercise guidance. These results suggest that personalized exercise programs should be provided to patients considering the daily background factors of each individual, and the importance of a physically active daily lifestyle should be emphasized.