Dietary patterns and their associations with glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Diabetes is an important global health concern. According to the World Health Organization, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has 2.8 to 4.3 million diabetic patients between the ages of 27 to 60 in the year 2022. Medical nutrition therapy an essential component of diabetes management, helps improve diabetes outcomes by assisting patients in achieving a target glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of <7. This study aimed to describe the pattern of food consumption in the study population and determine its association with glycemic control. This was a cross-sectional study among health facility attendees at the Endocrinology and Diabetes Center (EDC) in Jazan, KSA. A total of 315 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were enrolled using a systematic random sampling technique. Sociodemographic and dietary habit information gathered through face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measurements, and HbA1c were collected from medical records. Participants were mostly females (55.6%), and more than half of them were above 50 years of age. More than 90% of the patients had poor HbA1c levels, and 2-thirds of the patients were overweight and obese (43.8% and 37.1%, respectively). The most consumed foods were bread (8 times/week) and coffee/tea and vegetables (7 times per week), and the least consumed was soda beverages (once/week). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the consumption of fruits (consumed 5 times/week) significantly decreased HbA1c, while the consumption of pastries/pizza (consumed twice/week) significantly increased it. The pattern of consumption of fruits and vegetables in the study population conformed to the recommended levels, and that of fruits showed a statistically significant association with the control of HbA1c. Another food item that has a significant negative effect on HbA1c is pastries/pizza. Further studies that include more potentially confounding variables, such as treatment type, are needed.