Dietary Intake and Health Status in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Despite the positive effects of physical activity on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management, the lack of adequate evidence on the effects of dietary intake has raised concerns. This study aimed to assess dietary intake and its effect on glycaemic control among active and inactive patients with T2DM. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on patients with T2DM. Dietary food intake and physical activity were assessed using a validated questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. The daily consumption of fruit and vegetables was significantly higher in active patients compared with inactive patients (p = 0.00). Significantly higher daily rice consumption (p = 0.00) and lower dietary non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) intake (p < 0.01) were reported among inactive patients compared with active patients. The results also revealed a significantly higher glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level (8.37 1.51% vs 8.015 1.50%; p=0.02) and BMI (34.956.06 kg/m2 vs 31.725.62 kg/m2; p = 0.00) among inactive patients compared with active patients. A positive correlation was found between physical activity and NSP intake. The study found that a variety of lifestyle modifications, including increased physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption, could help manage glycaemic control in patients. The study further found that carbohydrate-rich NSPs may help lower BMI levels in patients with T2DM. KEYWORDS Dietary intake, glycaemic control, lifestyle, physical activity