Dietary quality, food security and glycemic control among adults with diabetes

Nutritionally adequate diets can slow the progression of diabetes, but adherence to recommended dietary choices can be hindered by food insecurity. We examined the relationship between dietary quality, food insecurity, and glycemic control among adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2016) for 1682 adults =>20 years old with Type 2 diabetes. Glycemic control was measured by HbA1c. Dietary quality was computed using the Healthy Eating Index 2015 score. Food security was assessed by a questionnaire. We analyzed the data using multinomial regression models.

About 16% of the population had an HbA1c ≥ 9; 31.8% had food insecurity; 68.3% consumed a poor quality diet. About 24% consumed a poor quality diet and had food insecurity. In the multinomial model, an HbA1c of 8-<9% was associated with poor diet quality (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4-19.2, p = 0.01) and food insecurity (AOR = 8.5, 95% CI = 1.4-52.0, p = 0.02). Those with both factors had higher odds of both an HbA1c 8-<9% (AOR = 6.1, 95% CI = 1.5-24.8, p = 0.01) and HbA1c ≥ 9% (AOR = 6.7, 95% CI = 2.0-22.2, p < 0.01). Other risk factors for poor glycemic control were being Black or Hispanic, having no regular source of care, and ever having visited a diabetes specialist (p < 0.05).

Poor glycemic control among adults with diabetes was associated with poor quality of diet and/or food insecurity, being Black, Hispanic, and lacking a regular source of care. There is a need for policies that improve access to healthy food in patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly among minority populations.