Association between Type of Diet, Extent of Sweet Consumption and Status of Physical Activity with Presence of Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: India is termed as the diabetic capital of the world and modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy dietary behaviors and inadequate physical activity play an important role in the control of diabetes. Objectives: To describe the pattern of diet consumption among Type II diabetic patients who were treated in a Tertiary care Hospital in South India. To describe the nature and extent of sweet consumption and to assess the relationship between nature of diet and sweet consumption among them. Materials and methods: A hospital based cross-sectional analytical study done among 368 adult Type II diabetic patients treated in a tertiary care hospital in South India during May 2020 to Dec 2021. Participants were recruited through consecutive sampling and data were collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Chi-square test was done to find out association between categorical variables and P value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Out of 368 participants, 227 (61.7%) belong to 50 to 69 years followed by 83 (22.6%) in 30 to 49 years age group, 187 (50.8%) were females and 181 (49.2%) were males, 90 (24.5%) were vegetarians, and 278 (75.5%) were non-vegetarians. Sweet consumption in the past 1 month was observed more (54%) among non-vegetarians. Mean ± SD of FBS level among vegetarians versus non-vegetarians was 123 ± 25.6 and 135 ± 34.5. Mean ± SD of PPBS level among vegetarians versus non-vegetarians was 189.4 ± 48.3 versus 208.6 ± 57.4. Conclusion: Participants following vegetarian diet with less sweet consumption and with more involvement in physical activity were observed to have a better diabetic control.