Analysis of Meal Habits from the Viewpoint of Regularity in Korean Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background: The regular meal pattern with consistent day-to-day calorie and carbohydrate intake is one of the most important determinants of good glycemic control in diabetes. This study was aimed to investigate the meal pattern and their relationships with total energy intake, nutrients intake and glycemic and lipid profile in type 2 diabetes. Methods: 1,084 subjects were divided according to glycemic status into three groups: the diabetes (DM), dysglycemia (DG) and normal (N). The meal frequency (MF), meal interval (MI) and daily intake of total energy, macronutrient and micronutrient were estimated with the 24 hours dietary recall from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) in 2001 and Eulji hospital. For analysis of meal pattern and it's relations with the nutrients intake, we regrouped into meal skipper (G1), non-meal skipper with unreasonable MI (G2), and non-meal skipper with reasonable MI (G3). Results: 17.5% of DM, 21.8% of DG, 23.3% of N skipped at least one meal a day without significant difference across the groups. 55.9% of non-meal skipper had unreasonable MI. Meal was more regular in older age, lower educated person, employee, and female. G1 took higher fat, and more calories form snack and less micronutrient density, compared with G3 (P < 0.05). HbA1c, total cholesterol and triglyceride values were higher in G1 compared with other two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Many type 2 diabetics had the irregular meal patterns, which was associated with poor glycemic control, lipid profiles and less micronutrient density. This suggested that another treatment strategy might be required for those who had irregular lifestyle. (KOREAN DIABETES J 32:68~76, 2008)