Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) as a tool for diet management in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Dietary diversity Score (DDS) is known as an indicator of food quality. This was a quasi-experimental study that determined the adequacy and means of energy consumption, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and saturated fats using five 24-hour recalls. Body weight, waist circumference (WC), and pre- and post-intervention HBA1c were measured, and DDS was calculated. A Food Plan Group (FPG) that had an individualized plan and a Dietary Diversity Group (DDG) that used the Dietary Diversity sheet to count food groups consumed per day were formed. Energy inadequacy was 30% in the FPG and 54% in the DDG (p=0.16). Carbohydrates inadequacy due to excess was 46.2% in the FPG and 50.0% in the DDG (p=0.14); protein was inadequate due to deficiency (92.3%) in 92% in the FPG and 69.2% in the DDG; there was low saturated fat consumption (p=0.06). Mean DDS in the FPG went from 5.0 to 6.0 (p=0.06) and in the DDG from 4.4 to 5.6 (p=0.01). Mean weight loss was −1.01 kg in the FPG and 0.33 in the DDG (p=0.05). WC decreased from 98.8 ± 11.0 cm to 96.5 ± 11.5 cm (p=0.01) in the FPG and from 99.1 ± 5.7 to 98.03 ± 4.7 (p=0.26) in the DDG. The Food Plan was more efficient; however, the efficacy of food group counting cannot be ruled out in the long term since it is easier than counting calories or portions.