Use of snacks in insulin-treated people with diabetes mellitus and association with HbA1c, weight and quality of life: a cross sectional study

Aim Insulin therapies with prandial injections offer the possibility to skip snacks or omit meals. It is unclear how many people with insulin‐treated diabetes mellitus eat snacks and whether they snack for their own comfort or only on the recommendation of healthcare professionals. Methods In 2004,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diabetic medicine 2015-03, Vol.32 (3), p.353-358
Main Authors: Heller, T., Kloos, C., Keßler, D., Müller, N., Thierbach, R., Wolf, G., Müller, U. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Body Weight - physiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - drug therapy
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - physiopathology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology
Feeding Behavior - psychology
Female
Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism
Humans
Hypoglycemia - prevention & control
Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use
Insulin - therapeutic use
Male
Middle Aged
Personal Satisfaction
Quality of Life - psychology
Snacks - psychology
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Aim Insulin therapies with prandial injections offer the possibility to skip snacks or omit meals. It is unclear how many people with insulin‐treated diabetes mellitus eat snacks and whether they snack for their own comfort or only on the recommendation of healthcare professionals. Methods In 2004, 163 consecutive people with insulin‐treated diabetes seen in a university outpatient department were interviewed regarding their diet and degree of satisfaction with their meals. Fifty‐five had Type 1 diabetes [age 47 years; diabetes duration 18 years; BMI 27 kg/m2; HbA1c 62 mmol/mol (7.8%)], 53 had Type 2 diabetes with biphasic insulin therapy [age 68 years; diabetes duration 17 years; BMI 31 kg/m2; HbA1c 60 mmol/mol (7.6%)] and 55 had Type 2 diabetes with prandial insulin therapy [age 60 years; diabetes duration 16 years; BMI 33 kg/m2; HbA1c 59 mmol/mol (7.6%)]. Results Eighty per cent of those with Type 1 diabetes ate snacks, together with 77% of the Type 2 diabetes/biphasic group and 62% of the Type 2 diabetes/prandial group. Most participants (91% Type 1 diabetes, 88% Type 2 diabetes/biphasic group, 82% Type 2 diabetes/prandial group) liked to have snacks. The time at which they ate snacks was the same for both diabetes types. There were no differences between participants with Type 1 diabetes who snacked and those who did not in terms of age (P = 0.350), BMI (P = 0.368), HbA1c (P = 0.257) and time since diagnosis (P = 0.846). Participants with Type 2 diabetes who ate snacks were older than those who did not (biphasic: P = 0.006; prandial: P = 0.008). There were no differences in terms of BMI (biphasic: P = 0.731; prandial: P = 0.393), HbA1c (biphasic: P = 0.747; prandial: P = 0.616) and time since diagnosis (biphasic: P = 0.06; prandial: P = 0.620). Conclusions Most people with insulin‐treated diabetes eat snacks voluntarily and not because of physicians' instructions. There were no correlations between the use of snacks and HbA1c, BMI and time since diagnosis, except that the participants with Type 2 diabetes who ate snacks were older. What's new? Prandial insulin therapy in persons with diabetes mellitus is still highly praised because of the flexible schedule of meals and the omission of snacks it affords. The majority of insulin‐treated people with diabetes, regardless of their diabetes therapy, eat regular meals and snacks and do not suffer because of it.
ISSN:0742-3071
1464-5491
DOI:10.1111/dme.12616