Examining diet-related care practices among adults with type 2 diabetes: a focus on glycemic index choices

We examined self-care dietary practices and usual intakes among adults with Type 2 diabetes in Alberta, Canada, using data from the Healthy Eating and Active Living for Diabetes study. Participants completed a modified Fat/Sugar/Fruit/Vegetable Screener and answered questions about the number of days per week they followed specific diabetes self-care dietary recommendations. Capillary blood samples were collected to assess glycemic control measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). ANOVA was used to examine differences in dietary self-care, intakes, and glycemic control across categories of days/week of practicing recommended dietary behaviour. Participants (n = 196) were 51% women, mean ± SD age 59.6 ± 8.5 years, with BMI 33.6 ± 6.5 kg/m², and diabetes duration of 5.1 ± 6.3 years. Sixteen percent of participants were unfamiliar with low-GI eating and 28% did not include low-GI foods in their diet. Overall, lower mean intake of saturated fat, trans fat, added sugars, higher fibre, and greater GI were each associated with meeting diabetes-related dietary behaviours including: eating ≥5 servings of vegetables and fruit; avoiding processed high fat foods; and replacing high with low-GI foods (P < 0.05). No clear pattern was observed for low-GI eating and HbA1c.