Abstract：ObjectiveTo learn the health status of empty nesters with diabetes in the mountains southwest of Zhejiang and to explore the influencing factors.MethodsUsing the method of stratified-random-cluster sampling, 78 empty nesters with diabetes and 156 non-empty nesters with diabetes who come from five streets and 10 towns of 30 community (or village) were selected and investigated by questionnaire and physical examination were conducted. Univariate analysis were conducted to compare the differences about lifestyle, biochemical indicators and health status between the two groups and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis were conducted to analyze the influencing factors.ResultsThe prevalence of hypertension of empty nest group was 70.51%, and the prevalence of hypertension of non-empty nest group was 58.97%. Fasting blood glucose level of empty nest group was 9.39±5.73 mmol/L, higher than that of the non-empty nest group(P<0.05). There was significant difference between the two groups in other indicators, such as drinking rate, high-salt diet rate, obesity rate, triglyceride levels, regular exercise rate, vegetables/fruits ≥4 days/week proportion, fish/meat ≥4 days/week, awareness of their own blood pressure and blood sugar awareness (P<0.05). After adjustment for age, the obesity rate, abnormal rate of triglycerides, fish/meat(≥4 days/week) intake, regular exercise rate, blood pressure and blood sugar awareness rate were lower among non-empty nesters with diabetes, and overweight rate, systolic blood pressure abnormal rate, fasting glucose ratio, alcohol and high salt diet were higher in empty nest group patients with diabetes.ConclusionEmpty nesters with diabetes have a relatively high proportion of lack of exercise, inadequate nutrition intake, alcohol consumption, high-salt diet and lack of health knowledge and other unhealthy factors. The community health services and individual guidance for the empty nesters should be strengthened to improve the health status of empty nesters with diabetes.
