Examining Diet-Related Care Practices Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Focus on Glycemic Index Choices

Can J Diet Pract Res. 2017 Mar;78(1):26-31. doi: 10.3148/cjdpr-2016-021. Epub 2016 Oct 25.

Abstract

We examined self-care dietary practices and usual intakes among adults with Type 2 diabetes in Alberta, Canada, using data from the Healthy Eating and Active Living for Diabetes study. Participants completed a modified Fat/Sugar/Fruit/Vegetable Screener and answered questions about the number of days per week they followed specific diabetes self-care dietary recommendations. Capillary blood samples were collected to assess glycemic control measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). ANOVA was used to examine differences in dietary self-care, intakes, and glycemic control across categories of days/week of practicing recommended dietary behaviour. Participants (n = 196) were 51% women, mean ± SD age 59.6 ± 8.5 years, with BMI 33.6 ± 6.5 kg/m2, and diabetes duration of 5.1 ± 6.3 years. Sixteen percent of participants were unfamiliar with low-GI eating and 28% did not include low-GI foods in their diet. Overall, lower mean intake of saturated fat, trans fat, added sugars, higher fibre, and greater GI were each associated with meeting diabetes-related dietary behaviours including: eating ≥5 servings of vegetables and fruit; avoiding processed high fat foods; and replacing high with low-GI foods (P < 0.05). No clear pattern was observed for low-GI eating and HbA1c.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alberta
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Mass Index
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diet therapy*
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Food Preferences
  • Fruit
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Glycemic Index*
  • Glycemic Load
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Vegetables

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Triglycerides

Grants and funding