Diabetes peer-education on food choices part II: Adoptability of menu plans in low-mid income communities

Abstract

Background : It is agreed that diabetes mellitus can be successfully managed, and complication prevented by making life styles changes such as improving diet. Studies have focused on absolute number servings of fruits and vegetables being less than required. Objective : The study purposed to critically review a food menu plan being used in a company’s staff clinic with a view to identify what, when and how much to eat certain types. Methods : A critical narrative review of an existing plan was performed. A purposive research design was used to select volunteer clients living with diabetes (N=38); and survey of their eating patterns were carried out. Using the company’s menu plan as reference point, relative frequencies of consumed foods including food items not recommended in the menu plan were determined. Results : Review of the food menu plan shows that most of what should be eaten are accessible and/or affordable in the local communities, but some indigenous alternatives need to be incorporated. An average of 38% of what the respondents eat differ from the menu plan in when-to-eat. The relative frequency evaluation of how-much-to-eat show significantly higher consumption of carbohydrate by approximately 2%, whereas fruits and vegetables are eaten less than required by more the 14% (p<0.01). Conclusion : The available food menu plan is adoptable for education on food choices to improve on dietary aspect of diabetes self-management. Necessary adjustment regarding what, when and how much to eat using the menu plan as a standard is discussed.