Diabetes, its risk factors and readiness to change lifestyle behaviours among Australian Samoans living in Sydney : baseline data for church-wide interventions

Objectives: To describe the current prevalence of type 2 diabetes (diabetes) and readiness to change diet and physical activity among Samoans associated with churches in Sydney. Methods: Residents aged ≥18 years attending four Samoan churches in Sydney were invited to participate in a church‐wide lifestyle intervention. Participants completed questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, provided a non‐fasting blood sample for HbA1c and random blood glucose (RBG) measurement, and performed a 6‐minute walk test. Obesity was defined using a Pacific body mass index (BMI) threshold ≥32 kg/m2 and diabetes if HbA1c was ≥6.5%. Results: In total, 131/187 (70%) of Samoans (mean age of 44.1 ± 15 years; Female 52%) participated. Diabetes was present in 33% of the population which included 20% previously diagnosed diabetes, duration 13.4 ± 6.7 years, (HbA1c 8.3 ± 2.5% and RBG 10.2 ± 4.1 mmol/L) and 13% had undiagnosed diabetes (HbA1c 8.1 ± 2.7% and RBG 10.3 ± 4.7 mmol/L). The overall baseline prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure and meeting the physical activity recommendation of ≥150 min/wk were 77%, 44% and 38% respectively. Over 90% of participants were contemplating, if not already taking action towards healthier diet choices and increasing physical activity. Conclusions: Prevalence of diabetes and its risk factors were high among Samoans in Sydney with a high proportion with undiagnosed diabetes. So what? These findings highlight the need to prioritise the delivery of culturally appropriate interventions tailored to the needs of the Samoan community. The high level of healthy lifestyle contemplation suggests that the community would be receptive to such interventions