OBJECTIVETo explore the status of diabetes-related behaviors and affecting factors among urban and suburban residents in China.

METHODSA sample of 18-60 years old residents from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanxi, Henan, Yunnan and Qinghai provinces was investigated by using stratified cluster random sampling method from March to May in 2013, and 4 282 residents were recruited. The Questionnaire of Health Literacy of Diabetes Mellitus of the Public in China was used to conduct the survey. χ(2) test was used to compare the different risk behavior characteristics of diabetes. The results of the survey were standardized by the 6th national census data. Multiple regression analysis was used to understand the affecting factors to related behaviors.

RESULTSAfter data standardization, 14.3% sat more than 6 hours every day, 57.6% exercised less than 3 times every week, 21.3% had no regularly daily diet, 58.7% paid no attention to diet control, 15.7% and 7.8% residents preferred salty and oily diet, 51.4% had physical examination less than 1 time every year, 29.7% were smokers, and 9.2% often drank. Urban residents spent much more time on sitting (18.2%) than rural residents (8.4%) (P < 0.05), and the rates of lack of physical exercise(52.7%), irregular diet (17.2%), paying no attention to diet control (51.9%), smokers (23.6%) among urban residents were lower than rural residents (60.1%, 21.4%, 62.5% and 32.1% respectively) (P < 0.05). The rates of irregular diet (24.6%), paying no attention to diet control (63.5%), high-salt and high-fat diet (30.1%), smokers (57.7%), drinking (18.7%) among men were higher than those in females (15.5%, 52.1%, 23.2%, 2.2%, and 0.8% respectively) (P < 0.05); regions, genders, educational levels, occupations were related to relative behaviors of diabetes, residents in rural areas (t = 7.829, P < 0.01), males (t = -21.760, P < 0.01), lower education level (t = 0.771, P < 0.01), as well as institution personnel (t = -4.240, P < 0.01) had lower behavior scores, which meant they had more risk behaviors related to diabetes.

CONCLUSIONThere were diabetes-related risk behaviors among both urban and suburban residents in China, such as insufficient physical exercise, no diet control and regular medical examinations. These risk behaviors happened more in rural areas than in urban areas, men than women, older age group than lower age group.