Association Between Nutritional Habits and Glycosylated Hemoglobin Level in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is one of the top 10 causes of mortality worldwide, and poor eating habits may lead to an uncontrolled level of HbA1c. A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was utilized. A convenient sample of 143 adult patients was utilized. The tools used were (a) structured interview questionnaire, (b) Health assessment and lifestyle questionnaire, and (c) Nutritional habits questionnaire. The mean age of the study sample was (47.39±11.53 years) with the mean level of HbA1c (8.05 ±1.45). HbA1c level was positively correlated with the nutritional habits score (r=0.343**; P= 0.000). A significant relationship was found between levels of HbA1c and eating fruits and vegetables. Monthly income is significantly associated with nutritional habits. To promote and improve nutritional habits, regular meetings in clinical settings should be held by an interdisciplinary care team including nurses and dieticians to provide assessment, follow-up, and nutritional advice for T2D patients. Replication of the study in different geographical areas is recommended.