Participants’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics
| Characteristic | Percentage (number) or mean (range) | |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic-speaking participants (n=60) | English-speaking participants (n=40) | |
| Gender | ||
| Female | 63% (38) | 60% (24) |
| Male | 37% (22) | 40% (16) |
| Mean age, years (range) | 57 (35–68) | 60 (54–69) |
| Mean years since diabetes diagnosed (range) | 9 (1–17) | 7 (3–14) |
| Mean years in Australia (range) | 8 (3–18) | NA |
| Diabetes status (HbA1c measurements in IFCC units and DCCT units (%)) | ||
| Excellent control 42–52 mmol/mol (6–6.9%) | 5% (3) | 17.5% (7) |
| Good control 53–63 mmol/mol (7–7.9%) | 46% (28) | 47.5% (19) |
| Indifferent control 64–74 mmol/mol (8–8.9%) | 20% (12) | 22.5% (9) |
| Poor control 75–85 mmol/mol (9–9.9%) | 22% (13) | 10% (4) |
| Exceptionally poor control >87 mmol/mol (>10%) | 7% (4) | 2.5% (1) |
| Comorbidity | ||
| Hypertension | 27% (16) | 45% (18) |
| Dyslipidemia | 37% (22) | 22.5% (9) |
| Retinopathy | 15% (9) | 12.5% (5) |
| Other cardiovascular disorder | 21% (13) | 20% (8) |
| Prescribed medication | ||
| None | 3% (2) | 7.5% (3) |
| Oral hypoglycaemic medications | 80% (48) | 55% (22) |
| Insulin | 10% (6) | 17.5% (7) |
| Both, oral and insulin | 7% (4) | 20% (8) |
| Family history of diabetes mellitus | 35% (21) | 32.5% (13) |
| Workforce participation | ||
| Working part time | 32% (19) | 45% (18) |
| Working full-time | 15% (9) | 27.5% (11) |
| Housewife | 37% (22) | 12.5% (5) |
| Pensioner | 5% (3) | 12.5% (5) |
| Unemployed | 11% (7) | 2.5% (1) |
| Living arrangement | ||
| Married and living with spouse and/or children | 97% (58) | 67.5% (27) |
| Living alone | 3% (2) | 32.5% (13) |
| Proficiency with English (self-rated) | ||
| Little or none | 35% (21) | NA |
| Moderate | 47% (28) | |
| Excellent | 18% (11) | |
| Country of birth | ||
| Lebanon | 38% (23) | NA |
| Jordan | 7% (40) | |
| Iraq | 18% (11) | |
| Syria | 5% (3) | |
| Egypt | 32% (19) | |
DCCT, Diabetes Control and Complications Trial; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; IFCC, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry; NA, not applicable.