ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the level of self-management and daily physical activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) of Zang and Han nationalities in Tibetan, China, and to compare the difference in daily management between T2DM patients of Zang and Han nationalities, to develop reasonable and effective chronic disease management strategies for long-term out-of-hospital management of T2DM patients of Zang nationalities.Methods:A total of 265 T2DM patients with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 7% who were admitted to the Endocrinology Ward of the Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibet Autonomous Region from November 2020 to April 2021 and who were from different regions of Tibet were included in this study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The general data of all included patients were collected. Glucose and lipid metabolism-related indicators were determined. The Generalized Diabetes Self-Management Efficacy Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) were used to evaluate patients' levels of self-management and daily physical activity.Results:The hemoglobin level in T2DM patients of Zang nationality was (154.09 ± 24.11) g/L, which was significantly higher than that in T2DM patients of Han nationality ( P < 0.05). The total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and low-density lipoprotein in T2DM patients of Zang nationality were (4.63 ± 1.41) mmol/L, (7.94 ± 2.19) mmol/L, and (2.75 ± 1.11) mmol/L, respectively, which significantly higher compared with T2DM patients of Han nationality (all P < 0.05). Compared with T2DM patients of Han nationality, T2DM patients of Zang nationality had lower self-management scores (81.40 ± 15.44) points, diet control scores (17.26 ± 4.97) points, physical exercise scores (11.67 ± 4.42) points, prevention and treatment of high and low blood sugar score (12.21 ± 5.72) points. The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Moderate-intensity physical activity was a significant difference between T2DM patients of Zang and Han nationalities ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:Compared with T2DM patients of Han nationality, T2DM patients of Zang nationality have lower overall self-management levels, including diet control, physical exercise, prevention and management of high and low blood glucose, and moderate-intensity physical activity. Targeted individualized education should be carried out according to the Tibetan cultural characteristics, to further develop an intervention method and an out-of-hospital management strategy for chronic disease, which are suitable for T2DM patients of Zang nationality.