Table 1

Characteristics of the study sample and subgroups according to diabetes history or participation in a DSME program

Variables		Participants without diabetes		Participants with diabetes		p value*	Never-DSME participants		Ever-DSME participants		p value†
Variables		N/M±SD‡	%§	N/M±SD‡	%§	p value*	N/M±SD‡	%¶	N/M±SD‡	%¶
N		19 204	93.3§	1300	6.7§		484	37.3¶	816	62.7¶
Sex	Male	8588	49.4	767	57.4	<0.001	280	53.7	487	59.6	0.093
Sex	Female	10 616	50.6	533	42.6		204	46.3	329	40.4
Age (years)		47.3±17.0		64.9±13.5		<0.001	67.4±13.1		63.5±13.5		<0.001
SES score ((min) 3 to 21 (max))		12.8±4.0		11.5±4.0		<0.001	11.6±4.1		11.4±3.9		0.713
Living together with spouse or as couple	Yes	13 030	67.2	951	71.6	0.006	350	69.4	601	72.8	0.293
Limitation due to health problems for at least 6 months	High	808	4.8	225	18.4	<0.001	75	16.3	150	19.6	0.140
	Moderate	2923	15.7	442	33.9		164	31.9	278	35.0
	None	15 473	79.5	633	47.7		245	51.8	388	45.4
Occupational status	Employed person	12 869	67.1	404	30.3	<0.001	133	27.1	271	32.2	0.365
	Unemployed person	442	2.6	26	2.5		9	2.4	17	2.5
	Retired/unable	5893	30.3	870	67.3		342	70.6	528	65.3
Self-efficacy beliefs (ASKU; min: 1 to max: 5)		4.2±0.7		3.9±0.9		<0.001	3.9±1.0		4.0±0.9		0.009
How much participants generally pay attention to their health (min: 1 to max: 5)		3.5±0.7		3.53±0.8		0.010	3.5±0.8		3.6±0.8		0.303
Fruit intake	Less than daily	10 299	56.4	540	42.3	<0.001	195	42.4	345	42.3	0.969
Fruit intake	At least once daily	8905	43.6	760	57.7		289	57.6	471	57.7
Vegetable intake	Less than daily	12 739	68.9	815	63.8	0.001	292	62.1	523	64.8	0.414
Vegetable intake	At least once daily	6465	31.1	485	36.2		192	37.9	293	35.2
Walking (min/day)	<30	12 884	67.2	846	62.9	0.009	321	65.6	525	61.4	0.236
Walking (min/day)	≥30	6320	32.8	454	37.1		163	34.4	291	38.6
Cycling (days/week)	<1	12 898	69.4	980	77.4	<0.001	385	82.9	595	74.2	<0.001
Cycling (days/week)	≥1	6306	30.6	320	22.6		99	17.1	221	25.8
Doing sports (days/week)	<1	6442	36.3	649	51.0	<0.001	257	54.8	392	48.8	0.116
	1	2568	12.6	144	11.6		56	12.4	88	11.1
	≥2	10 194	51.1	507	37.3		171	32.7	336	40.1
Endurance training ≥150 min/week and strength training twice/week	Yes	4689	23.6	193	13.5	<0.001	60	10.2	133	15.5	0.014
≥150 min. aerobic PA/week including walking	Yes	12 149	61.2	655	48.9	<0.001	224	42.8	431	52.5	0.013
≥150 min. aerobic PA/week without walking	Yes	9399	47.0	455	33.2	<0.001	148	27.2	307	36.7	0.004
Tobacco use	Smoker	4526	25.3	211	16.9	<0.001	74	15.2	137	17.9	0.013
	Ex-smoker	5635	29.2	592	43.2		212	38.6	380	45.9
	Never-smoker	9043	45.5	497	39.9		198	46.1	299	36.2
BMI	Normal	9856	49.1	231	17.2	<0.001	82	18.1	149	16.6	0.256
	Overweight	6523	35.0	511	40.6		206	43.3	305	39.0
	Obese	2825	15.9	558	42.2		196	38.6	362	44.4
Time since diabetes mellitus-diagnosis	≤2 years	–	–	233	16.8		131	24.1	102	12.4	<0.001
Time since diabetes mellitus-diagnosis	>2 years	–	–	1044	83.2		345	75.9	699	87.6

This table shows absolute frequencies and estimated prevalences in per cent based on weight factors. The tests for significance take weight factors into account. N for time since diagnosis of diabetes mellitus varies from overall N for ever-DSME participants or never-DSME participants due to missing values for this variable. BMI was categorized according to WHO categorization as normal (<25 kg/m²), overweight (25-<30 kg/m²) and obese (≥30 kg/m²).16
*Indicates test for significance between participants with and without diabetes.
†Indicates test for significance between patients with diabetes with versus without DSME participation.
‡We show unweighted absolute frequencies.
§Percentages are calculated with reference to overall cohort including weight factors except for variable N.
¶Percentages are calculated with reference to ever-DSME participants or never-DSME participants, respectively. Calculation includes weight factors except for variable N.
ASKU, Index of self-efficacy; BMI, body mass index; diabetes, diabetes mellitus; DSME, diabetes self-management education; N, number; PA, physical activity; SES, socioeconomic status.