Ageing and Nutritional Therapy Adherence in Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes increases with age, which is also a determinant of nutrition therapy adherence. This descriptive study was conducted in a non-random sample of 66 patients aged between 47 and 75 years (M=61.5; SD=8.0) receiving health care in a Diabetes Clinic in the municipality of Faro, in the Portuguese region of the Algarve. We aimed to assess the association between age and the clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetes and to analyze the perceptions regarding the barriers to an adequate diet. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=-0.372, P<0.001) showed a negative correlation with age, suggesting that older patients have a better glucose control. Older age is also correlated with a higher number of daily meals (r=0.263) and lower intake of energy (r=-0.334), protein (r=-0.249), sugars (r=-0.301), and water (r=-0.223). Forty-six patients (69.7%) had a mean excess energy intake of 384 kcal (SD=630.2), when compared with individual nutritional energy estimated requirements. Excess energy intake was uncorrelated with age (r=-0.138, P=0.269). Older patients also seem more confused with the nutrition information they received (r=0.248) and feel that they need more advice on what is a proper diet (r=0.242). Nutrition education interventions in this population must be tailored in order to address these factors.

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“…This specific group is the one that has been the most harshly affected and should be the target group when considering policy interventions to improve adherence. This is an important result from a policy point of view because this population is more fragile and is less adherent to nutrition guidelines for diabetes ( Pinto and Braz, 2015 ); hence, they might suffer from further health problems in the future.…”