Background: Although BMI (body mass index) and physical activity are implicated in diabetes complications, it is unclear how these factors influence personalised care planning linked to glycaemic control. This study assessed the mediating effects of BMI and physical activity on relations between personalised care plans (PCPs) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, using population-based data.
Method: Bootstrapping was used to analyse PCP, HbA1c, BMI, and physical activity data from 3894 respondents to the 2014 Health Survey for England, for whom HbA1c data was available, regardless of diabetes status. This group comprised 1812 (46.5%) males, 17 and 2082 (53.5%) females, aged 16 to 90 (Mean = 51.68 years, SD = 17.25).
Results: Patients with a PCP had higher HbA1c levels compared to those without a care plan. BMI influenced this relationship amongst patients aged 40 to 60; those with a PCP and higher HbA1c also tended to have higher BMI values. Physical activity did not affect the relationship between PCPs and glycaemic control.
Conclusions: BMI, but not physical activity, partly explained higher HbA1c levels in patients with a PCP. Given recent population-based evidence implicating exercise in diabetes complications, some debate is needed on the role of physical activity in personalised care planning and glycaemic control
