ASSESSMENT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, FOOD HABITS AND DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES IN SHIRAZ

Background and Aim: Diabetes is an increasing health problem. Diet and nutritional knowledge are important factors in diabetes. This study was done to investigate the association between nutritional knowledge and food habits in relation to BMI, BP and blood factors in the patient with Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 260 people with diabetes in Motahhari diabetes clinic in Shiraz. Dietary intakes were evaluated using a 147-item FFQ. Dietary pattern was estimated using Nutritionist IV. Also socio-economic, demographic and nutritional knowledge questionnaires were completed. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Serum FBS, LDL, HDL, TG were extracted from patients medical records. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, one-way ANOVA and Linear Regression methods in SPSS. (P<0.05 is significant)Results: Of the 73 male and 187 female patients, 39.2% had overweight and 33.5% were obese. There was no relationship between nutritional knowledge and dietary intake. Total caloric intake (P<0.022) and the cereals and simple sugars intake (P<0.011) as an independent variables have a linear relationship with blood LDL levels. Also, getting more dairy (P<0.014) and fat (P<0.046) has led to increased levels of FBS. A negative correlation was seen between dairy intake with WC (P<0.003) and BMI (P<0.008) and a positive correlation between beans intake and HDL (P<0.001).Conclusion: Nutritional awareness cannot lead to a healthy diet, because socioeconomic status, motivation, and other factors also affect it. There was a correlation between dietary habits with lipoprotein factors and FBS. Therefore, improving the diet of patients with diabetes is essential.