Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rising worldwide. When diabetes is uncontrolled, it has dire consequences for health and well-being. However, the role of diet in the origin of diabetes complications is not understood well. This study identifies major dietary patterns among type 2 diabetes patients and its association with diabetes complications in Gaza Strip, Palestine.MethodsThis cross sectional study was conducted among 1200 previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (both genders, aged 20–64 years), patients receiving care in primary healthcare centers in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Dietary patterns were evaluated using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Additional information regarding demographic and medical history variables was obtained with an interview-based questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.ResultsTwo major dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis: Asian-like pattern and sweet-soft drinks-snacks pattern. After adjustment for confounding variables, patients in the lowest tertile of the Asian-like pattern characterized by a high intake of whole grains, potatoes, beans, legumes, vegetables, tomatoes and fruit had a lower odds for (High BP, kidney problems, heart problems, extremities problems and neurological problems), (OR 0.710 CI 95% (.506–.997)), (OR 0.834 CI 95% (.700–.994)), (OR 0.730 CI 95% (.596–.895)), (OR 0.763 CI 95% (.667–.871)) and (OR 0.773 CI 95% (.602–.991)) respectively, (P value <0.05 for all). No significant association was found between the sweet-soft drinks snacks pattern with diabetes complications.ConclusionThe Asian-like pattern may be associated with a lower prevalence of diabetes complications among type 2 diabetes patients.
Highlights
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rising worldwide
Long term complications such as coronary heart disease which can lead to a heart attack, cerebrovascular disease which can lead to stroke, retinopathy which can lead to blindness, nephropathy which can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis, and neuropathy which increases the chance of foot ulcers, infection and the eventual need for limb amputation may be attenuated by dietary interventions [2]
The scree plot of eigenvalues indicated two major patterns: 1) Asianlike pattern characterized by a high intake of whole grains, potatoes, beans, legumes, vegetables, tomatoes and fruit as well as a low intake of refined grains, sugar, sweets and desserts; 2) Sweet-soft drinks-snacks pattern, characterized by a high intake of refined grains, sugar, sweets, desserts, snacks and soft drinks
Summary
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rising worldwide. When diabetes is uncontrolled, it has dire consequences for health and well-being. This study identifies major dietary patterns among type 2 diabetes patients and its association with diabetes complications in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Most studies have examined the associations between individual foods or food groups and nutrients and diabetes complications [14,15,16,17,18,19], instead of focusing on dietary patterns which is the most sensible approach to test the role of the overall diet on nutrition-related diseases. Understanding the association between dietary patterns with diabetes complications may be helpful in reducing diabetes-related premature mortality and improve outcomes among T2DM patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study, which examined this association among T2DM patients in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Our study was conducted to identify major dietary patterns among T2DM patients and its association with diabetes complications
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