I must eat what I want: A roadblock to type 2 diabetes management

Abstract

Globally, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered as one of the most common diseases, which is associated with irreversible risk factors such as age, gene, race, ethnicity, and reversible factors such as diet, physical activity, and smoking. Noncompliance to dietary regimen is the major factors for rapidly rising incidence of T2DM among developing countries. Recently, elevated HbA1c level has also been considered as one of the leading risk factors for developing microvascular and macrovascular complications. Improvement in the elevated HbA1c level can be achieved through diet management; thus, this study found that improvement in patients' dietary knowledge, attitude toward, and compliance to diet regimen will promote a better control of the disease. In conclusion, the stakeholders (health-care providers, health facilities, agencies involved in T2DM care) should educate the patients on the importance of dietary modification in the disease management. Similarly, there is a need for nurses and other health care professionals to advocate and promote a better holistic management that will encourage patients participation and family involvement in the care.