Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Developing Diabetes and Diabetes Medication Use

Ángel Denche-Zamorano; David Manuel Mendoza-Muñoz; Sabina Barrios-Fernandez; Carolina Perez-Corraliza; Juan Manuel Franco-García; Jorge Carlos-Vivas; Raquel Pastor-Cisneros; María Mendoza-Muñoz

doi:10.3390/healthcare10122479

Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Developing Diabetes and Diabetes Medication Use

Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Dec 8;10(12):2479. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10122479.

Authors

Ángel Denche-Zamorano¹, David Manuel Mendoza-Muñoz¹, Sabina Barrios-Fernandez², Carolina Perez-Corraliza³, Juan Manuel Franco-García⁴, Jorge Carlos-Vivas⁵, Raquel Pastor-Cisneros¹, María Mendoza-Muñoz^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain.
² Occupation, Participation, Sustainability and Quality of Life (Ability Research Group), Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain.
³ Research Group on Physical and Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life, Centro Universitario de Plasencia, Universidad de Extremadura, 10600 Plasencia, Spain.
⁴ Health, Economy, Motricity and Education (HEME) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain.
⁵ Physical Activity for Education, Performance and Health, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain.
⁶ Research Group on Physical and Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life (PHYQOL), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain.
⁷ Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal.

Abstract

Diabetes is a global public health challenge, exerting a large socioeconomic burden on healthcare systems. This study aimed to explore Diabetes prevalence and Diabetes medication use in diabetics regarding sex, age group, Physical Activity Level (PAL) and Body Mass Index (BMI) by studying possible differences and calculating the risks of developing Diabetes and Diabetes medication use in the population according to their PAL. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data extracted from the Spanish National Health Survey (ENSE2017). The sample was finally composed of 17,710 participants. A descriptive analysis was performed to characterise Diabetes prevalence and Diabetes medication use (Chi-square test and a z-test for independent proportions). Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated for Diabetes prevalence and Diabetes medication use according to the participants’ PAL. Both the Diabetes and Diabetes medication use was higher in men than in women, increasing with age and BMI, and decreasing with increasing PAL (p < 0.001). Higher prevalence levels were observed in the inactive group versus very active or active people (p < 0.001). Inactive people had a higher risk of Diabetes and use of Diabetes medication risk compared to the very active and active groups. Prevalence decreased the higher the PAL both in men and women.

Keywords: Diabetes; medication; physical activity; physical heath.

Grants and funding

The authors Á.D.-Z. (FPU20/04201) and J.M.F-G. (FPU20/04143) were supported by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport. Grants FPU20/04201 and FPU20/04143 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and, as appropriate, by “European Social Found Investing in your future” or by “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR”. The author M.M.-M. was supported by a grant from the Universities Ministry and the European Union (NextGenerationUE) (MS-12).