The Pattern of Dietary Habits and Glycemic Control of Diabetics in Eastern Nigeria

Iya Ntui, Alphonsus Ekpe Udoh, Kaiso-Umo Sunday Esiere, Okon Essien and Edmund Richard Egbe

The pattern of dietary habits and how this affected glycemic control in diabetics in Eastern Nigeria was investigated. In this study, about 48% of the diabetic patients' diets used plantain as the only carbohydrate source while 52.4% took diets that included various sources of carbohydrate but at reduced levels. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the glycemic control of both groups as judged by their glycated hemoglobin levels. However, subjects using multiple carbohydrate sources had significantly higher BMI (p<0.05) than those on plantain. We conclude that multiple food sources, if well regulated, would control diabetes and find better acceptance among diabetics than a single carbohydrate source.