• Chiagozie Nwasuruba, Mokbul Khan, and Leonard E Egede.
• Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
• J Gen Intern Med. 2007 Jan 1; 22 (1): 115120115-20.

ObjectiveTo assess racial/ethnic differences in multiple diabetes self-care behaviors.DesignCross-sectional study.Participants21,459 participants with diabetes in the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance survey.MeasurementsThe study assessed self-care behaviors including physical activity, fruits/vegetables consumption, glucose testing, and foot examination, as well as a composite of the 4 self-care behaviors across racial/ethnic groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the independent association between race/ethnicity, the composite variable, and each self-care behavior controlling for covariates. STATA was used for statistical analysis.ResultsOverall, 6% engaged in all 4 self-care behaviors, with a range of 5% in non-insulin users to 8% in insulin users. Blacks were less likely to exercise (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.51, 0.79), while Hispanics and "others" were not significantly different from whites. Hispanics (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49, 0.82) and others (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49, 0.96) were less likely to do home glucose testing, while blacks were not significantly different from whites. Blacks (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12, 1.80) were more likely to do home foot examinations, while Hispanics and others were not significantly different from whites. Blacks (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36, 0.87) were less likely to engage in all 4 behaviors, while Hispanics and others were not significantly different from whites. There were no significant racial/ethnic differences in fruit and vegetable consumption.ConclusionsFew patients engage in multiple self-care behaviors at recommended levels, and there are significant racial/ethnic differences in physical activity, dietary, and foot care behaviors among adults with diabetes.

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