Understanding Exercise Facilitators, Preferences, and Goals in Females With Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine facilitators, preferences, and goals influencing exercise self-management among Australian females with type 2 diabetes (T2D) to inform more person-centered exercise counselling and support.

This was a mixed-methods analysis of females with self-reported T2D (≥18 years) who completed an anonymous online survey regarding exercise self-management. The survey included quantitative items assessing demographics, physical activity levels, exercise facilitators, and exercise preferences and free-text responses that were thematically analyzed to explore exercise goals. Responses were also compared by age group (younger: 18-54 years; older: ≥55 years) to explore potential differences across adulthood.

Participants (n = 119) were aged 22 to 87 years (mean: 59.5 ± 13.3 years), with a median T2D duration of 4.1 years. Most (57%) reported being physically active ≥150 min/wk. Participants were primarily motivated by the perceived health benefits of exercise, particularly weight and glycemic management; however, qualitative insights revealed that these were often framed as strategies to reduce the need for medication. Exercise facilitators, preferences, and goals were largely consistent across age groups.

These findings highlight opportunities to better align exercise counselling and support with the priorities of females with T2D. Educating females about the broader benefits of exercise beyond weight and glycemia and framing it as a strategy to reduce medication burden may enhance its perceived relevance and uptake. The consistency of findings across age groups suggests that strategies to support exercise self-management may be broadly applicable across adulthood.