Misperception of patients with type 2 diabetes about diet and physical activity, and its effects on readiness to change.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess misperceptions about lifestyle among patients with type 2 diabetes and their effects on readiness to change.

Methods: Nine hundred and forty patients, with an HbA1c >7% and a body mass index >25 kg/m(2), from 57 general practices participated in a cross-sectional survey. Misperceptions of lifestyle (fruit, vegetable, and fat consumption, as well as physical activity) and readiness to change were determined with validated questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis calculated the association of misperception with readiness to change.

Results: The response rate was 55.4%. Misperception existed for all lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, 41.5%; consumption of fruit, 40.1%; consumption of vegetables, 69.2%; consumption of fat, 21.6%). Misperception significantly affected readiness to change the relevant lifestyle (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] ranging from 2.67 [1.68-4.23] to 1.80 [1.16-2.79]), except in the case of fruit consumption. The degree of misperception varied greatly between the different lifestyle behaviors and was somewhat larger (1-10%) than that in the general Dutch population.

Conclusions: Patients with type 2 diabetes misperceive their lifestyle behaviors, which hinders lifestyle changes. The variations in misperception and readiness to change show that diversity should be considered in lifestyle counseling for patients with type 2 diabetes.