Nutritional label use among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Aybike Cebeci; Sule Aktac; Safiye Keskin; Seda Senguzel; Fatma Esra Gunes

Aybike Cebeci Marmara University
Sule Aktac Marmara University
Safiye Keskin
Seda Senguzel Professor Dr. Burak Tatli Special Pediatric Neurology Clinic
Fatma Esra Gunes Marmara University

Keywords: Type 1 diabetes, nutritional label, carbohydrate counting, diabetes education

Abstract

Background and Aims: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the nutritional label use of individuals with type 1 DM. Material and Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in November 2017 - June 2018. Diabetic individuals were reached through hospitals and social networks. The study was conducted with 105 (64 female, 41 male) individuals with type 1 DM living in Istanbul. A questionnaire about sociodemographic characteristics, biochemical parameters, medical treatment, food label reading status, food label reading reasons were applied in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS V 16.0 program. Results: 85.7% of the participants read the food label. No significant difference was found when age group and nutritional label reading status were examined (p > 0.05). Besides, information was given to 67.6% of the participants about reading the nutritional label. A significant association was found between nutritional label reading knowledge and carbohydrate counting application and stages (P=0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between biochemical parameters and reading label status (p>0.05). Conclusions: Nutritional label reading should be mentioned more in the medical nutrition therapy and diabetes education.