Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy: Quality of Life and Behavioral Eating Competence Outcomes

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To examine quality of life and eating behavior outcomes from diabetes medical nutrition therapy (MNT).Clinical and medical outcomes for basic care (BC) and practice guideline care (PGC) for diabetes MNT provided by dietitians have been reported. Both groups experienced improvements in HbAlc at 3 and 6 months after study entry.Quality of life (QOL) for trial subjects (n=*86) was measured by SF 36 (a standardized inventory) which uses 36 items to assess facets of functional health status. Scores range from 0-100; a higher score being a more favorable health status. At 6 months, significant improvements in energy/fatigue (54 to 62; p < .001) and mental health (75 to 78; p < .05) were noted. No differences were found in physical functioning (76 to 76); role functioning, physical (76 to 73); role functioning, emotional (78 to 82); pain (74 to 73); and general health perception (62 to 63).The Dieters Inventory of Eating Temptations (DIET) was used to assess eating behaviors (high scores indicate areas of strength and low scores weakness). At 6 months, all subjects experienced significant improvements (p < .001) in resisting temptation (67 to 74); positive social (58 to 69); food choices (64 to 75); overeating (62 to 71); and negative emotions (61 to 69). When the two groups were compared at 6 months, PGC showed the greater improvement in resisting temptation (69 vs 79; p < .05); positive social (62 vs 76;p < .01); exercise (48 vs 64;p < .01); negative emotions (62 vs 76;p<.01).Therefore, diabetes MNT as measured by the SF 36 improved energy/fatigue and mental health factors and resulted in significant improvements in control of eating situations and behaviors as measured by DIET with PGC resulting in significantly better results than BC.