The effect of physical activity counseling on diabetics' mobility : results of a secondary analysis

The preservation of mobility is essential for maintaining an independent and active lifestyle in old age. However, diabetes greatly increases older people’s susceptibility to mobility loss, leading to an increased risk of dependence. Given the increased prevalence of diabetes with age, and the increasing incidence of the disease worldwide, public health initiatives for preventing mobility loss with age must also prove effective for diabetics. The screening and counseling for physical activity among older people (SCAMOB) study examines the effectiveness of physical activity counseling for the prevention of mobility loss in an older population. Although the cohort as a whole has shown positive results, the effectiveness of the intervention among diabetics, particularly type 2 diabetics, is still unknown. For this reason, I proposed a secondary analysis of the SCAMOB study and 2-year follow-up data, which will evaluate the effectiveness of the SCAMOB intervention for the prevention of mobility loss in older type 2 diabetics versus non-diabetics. The primary findings of this study were as follows: (1) Physical activity counseling does not improve diabetics’ habitual physical activity level or mobility; however, it can help diabetics maintain current levels of mobility, by preventing decline in 2 km walking ability. (2) Physical activity counseling influences more change among non-diabetics than it does among diabetics, in regards to both habitual physical activity level and mobility outcomes. Directions for future research include similar analyses in a more suitable sample, as well as the investigation of supplementary intervention strategies for the reversal of mobility loss in older type 2 diabetics.