Stages of change for healthy eating in diabetes: Relation to demographic, eating-related, health care utilization, and psychosocial factors

OBJECTIVES - To identify diabetes-related characteristics of individuals at different stages of readiness to change to healthy, low-fat eating. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Stage-based differences in demographic, eating-related, health care utilization, and psychosocial factors were examined in a sample of 768 overweight (BMI >27 kg/m²) individuals with diabetes enrolled in a randomized behavioral intervention trial. RESULTS - Stage-based differences occurred for type 1 diabetic participants on percent of calories from fat and number of daily vegetable servings. For type 2 diabetic participants, sex, disease-specific quality of life, percent calories from fat, and number of daily vegetables servings differed across stages. Those in action stages were more likely to be female and have a better quality of life and healthier eating habits. Type 2 diabetic insulin-requiring participants in action stages were more likely to be married. Social support was highest for those in the contemplation stage and lowest for those in the action stage. Type 2 diabetic participants on pills in the action stages were older, had a lower BMI, ate more fruit, were nonsmokers, recently attended diabetes education, had a better quality of life and social support, and had less stress. One anomalous finding for type 2 diabetic participants was that precontemplators scored similarly to those in action stages. CONCLUSIONS - These data validate the Transtheoretical Model, where those in the action stages displayed healthier eating. They also indicate that demographic and psychosocial factors may mediate readiness to change diet. Precontemplators were a heterogeneous group and may need individually tailored interventions.