The nutritional habits of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Malta : have they changed since the 1980s?

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to define the contemporary dietary habits of both patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nondiabetics in Malta and to compare the results with the findings of a similar study performed in 1983 by Katona et al. The study was a cross sectional study of representative subsets of the Maltese population. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and record baseline characteristics, information about diet and exercise levels. Results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the diets of the T2DM and nondiabetic cohorts. Compared to the 1983 data, the Maltese are eating more carbohydrates, less fat and fibre. Diabetics appear not to be changing their lifestyle habits once they are given their diagnosis. The results suggest that continuous education is needed on all aspects of a healthy lifestyle including dietary advice and should include both diabetics and non-diabetics.