Gender associated differences in diet and anthropometric measures in Cape Breton Caucasians with well-controlled type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Diet and anthropometic measures are important indicators of risk of various complications in type 2 diabetics. The purpose was to assess the hypothesis that there would be gender differences in anthropometric measures and dietary intakes for energy and energy-yielding nutrients including oleic acid in the study population of well-controlled (HbA1c < 8 %) Caucasian type 2 diabetics. Males (n=18) and females (n = 14) participated. Subjects came in for two visits each 3 months apart. Males differed from females only in height (m) (1.72 + 0.02 vs 1.59 ± 0.01), hip circumference (cm) (103.0 ± 1.4 vs 117.8 ± 3.9), waist to hip ratio (0.99 ± 0.01 vs 0.87 ± 0.01 and waist to height ratio (0.591 ± 0.010 vs 0.640 ± 0.018). Despite a higher intake for total calories in males and similar intakes for the energy yielding nutrients including oleic acid in the study population of type 2 diabetics, males and females had similar weights and waist circumferences while males had greater waist to hip ratios, lesser waist to height ratios and very a strong trend toward lesser BMI. Females are further away from recommended anthropometric targets and as such appear to be at greater risk of complications from type 2 diabetes.