Evaluation of relationship between dietary patterns and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background and Objective: Appropriate dietary pattern as one of the influencing factors on quality of life plays an important role in the control and treatment of diabetes. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and quality of life in patients with diabetes.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 110 patients with diabetes attending the Diabetes Clinic of Ahvaz in 2012. The instrument for data collection included demographic and anthropometric questionnaire, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, quality of life questionnaire SF-36 and audit of diabetes-dependent quality of life (ADDQOL). The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 19, by independent t test and multivariate linear regression.

Results: In this study, three major dietary patterns including healthy, traditional and high-protein dietary patterns were identified. Healthy dietary pattern was associated with smaller amounts of weight, BMI, body fat percent and blood glucose (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was also found between healthy dietary pattern and quality of life indices (physical functioning, general health, vitality, self-confident, positive feeling about the future and freedom to eat). In contrast, the traditional dietary pattern was associated with lower score of quality of life (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Modification of dietary pattern and following a healthy dietary pattern, by a positive impact on the anthropometric indices, blood glucose control and increased self-confidence and hope in the future, will improve quality of life in patients with diabetes.