Purpose: To investigate whether adherence to the Dutch Healthy Diet index 2015 (DHD15-index) is associated with change in glycemic control and cardio-metabolic markers over two-year follow-up in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Methods: This prospective cohort study included 1202 individuals with T2D (mean age 68.7 ± 9.0 years; 62.5% male; mean HbA1c 53.8 ± 11.7 mmol/mol) from the Diabetes Care System cohort. Baseline dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and adherence to the DHD15-index was estimated (range 0-130). HbA1c, fasting glucose, blood lipids (HDL and LDL cholesterol, cholesterol ratio), blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and BMI were measured at baseline, and after one- and two-year follow-up. Linear mixed model analyses were conducted to examine the associations between adherence to the DHD15-index and glycemic control and the cardio-metabolic outcomes, adjusting for energy intake, sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, and medication.
Results: Highest adherence (T3) to the DHD15-index was not associated with change in HbA1c, compared to lowest adherence (T1) [βT3vsT1: 0.62 mmol/mol (- 0.94; 2.19), Ptrend = 0.44]. There was a non-linear association with fasting glucose, where moderate adherence (T2) was associated with a decrease in fasting glucose [βT2vsT1: - 0.29 mmol/L (- 0.55; - 0.03), Ptrend = 0.30]. Higher adherence to the DHD15-index was associated with a decrease in BMI [β10point: - 0.41 kg/m2 (- 0.60; - 0.21), Ptrend < 0.001], but not with blood lipids, blood pressure or kidney function.
Conclusion: In this well-controlled population of people with T2D, adherence to the DHD15-index was associated with a decrease in BMI, but not with change in glycemic control or other cardio-metabolic parameters.
Keywords: Cardio-metabolic parameters; Dietary pattern; Dutch healthy diet index 2015; Glycemic control; Type 2 diabetes.
© 2022. The Author(s).