Women's Wellness with Type 2 Diabetes: A 12 week lifestyle intervention to improve health related quality of life for mid-life women with type 2 diabetes

Results: A total of 149 women aged from 45-65, from both Australia and the UK, who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes registered interest in the study. Seventy two of those women consented to participate, Australia (n =35) and the UK (n = 37). Anthropometric measurements - including weight, BMI, waist circumference, diabetes distress and physical activity were compared across the two study locations (UK and Australia) at both baseline and completion of the intervention. Overall, significant reductions were seen in weight, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio over the course of the intervention. Moreover, while a significant reduction in hip circumference was also noted over time women in the Australian sample reported a greater reduction compared with the UK sample. Changes in clinically relevant diabetes distress (DSS equal to or greater than 3) was examined. Some differences in distress levels were noted at baseline with around one-fifth of Australian women (21.4%, n = 6) and over one-third of UK women (37.9%, n = 11) reported elevated distress. Notably however, at 12 weeks only 11% of Australian woman (n = 3) and 7% of UK women (n = 2) continued to have elevated distress. Participant interviews revealed that participants in both study locations found the WWDP program was a clear, structured and self-guided programme. Comprehensive intervention with interrelated components and provision of booklet were the most appreciated features of the program. Some participants explicitly referred to the importance of external support. Before starting the program and during the early weeks of program, some expressed having feeling of anxiety which gradually disappeared with the .support they received as the program continued. Following completion of the program, the participants’ perspectives regarding diabetes and their health had been positively changed and participants attributed these changes directly to the intervention.