Type of Exercise and Factors Contributing to Exercise Adherence Among Diabetes Patients in Saudi Arabia

Diabetes mellitus (DM) management guidelines are continuously updated to reflect emerging evidence and changes in patient lifestyles. Physical activity is considered essential to achieving adequate blood glucose control. The study aims to evaluate the level of exercise adherence among diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia and the factors that affect adherence.  Method: This was an observational cross-sectional study; the data collection tool included a questionnaire distributed across healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included a socio-demographic section, medical history of diabetes, exercise knowledge and awareness, and factors affecting exercise adherence. Participants included were 18 years or older, diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and had documented HbA1c levels. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 24 (Released 2016; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) was used for data analysis. The result was considered statistically significant if p-value<0.05.

Out of 1400 participants, 60.2% (n=843) were female and 39.8% (n=557) were male. (31%) reported engaging in regular exercise more than 150 minutes per week. Walking (45%), resistance training (30%), and cycling (25%) were the most common activities. Exercise-adherent individuals had better glycemic control levels compared to non-adherents (P-value 0.001). Empowering factors were social support and access to resources, while time constraints and health limitations were major barriers to achieving adherence.  Conclusion: The study shows a low level of adherence among participants. Walking is the most preferred exercise. The younger population was more adherent to exercise. The study underscores the importance of addressing barriers and enhancing support systems to improve exercise adherence among diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia.