Individual, social and environmental predictors of regular exercise among adults with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy in China

The purpose of the study was to explore the individual, social and environmental factors influencing regular exercise on the basis of the theoretical framework of social ecological model among adults with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. A total of 122 participants were chosen from Tianjin Metabolic Disease Hospital from November 2013 to May 2014. Information on exercise status and influencing factors was collected. Most participants took walking as the mode of exercise and exercised alone. Only 59.8% of participants were reported to carry out regular exercise. Logistic regression analysis suggested that being male, longer duration with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, higher self-efficacy for exercise and higher objective support were associated with regular exercise. Exercise status was clearly not ideal among adults with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. The study highlighted the need to take measures to improve self-efficacy for exercise and social support in order to promote exercise participation among adults with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.