Perceived barriers to physical activity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)

patients during COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE

Bushra Ali and Dr. Anne Eliott (2021)
4. REASONS OF PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
1. BACKGROUND: Fatigue Fear of getting hurt
• Increasing number of people with diabetics in the region
making UAE one of the top 10 countries with its prevalence
• Outbreak of COVID19 on 30th January 2020 resulting in the
decalartion of pandemic on 11 March 2020.
• Lockdown further reducing already low levels of Physical
activity in the region
Impact of lockdown
2. OBJECTIVE: To explore barriers to physical activity for people
living with diabetes before and during COVID-19 in UAE

3. METHODS
Semi structured interviews with 14 participants (age: 40-60 years)
living with diabetes during the COVID19 pandemic

Cultural and social norms

5. RESULTS
The result of this investigation shows that the combination of physical obstacles such as hot weather, comorbidities, and the pandemic along
with low valuation of exercise over work and family commitments translates into insufficient interest and motivation to exercise