Food consumption frequency in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus users from primary health care centres of Copiapo (Chile)

Currently, diabetes mellitus is a major health problem affecting 12.7% of people between ages 20 and 79 years in Chile, 90-95% of whom have type 2 diabetes mellitus (1) . Diet is a cornerstone in the management of this pathology (2) . Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the food consumption frequency in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and users of primary health care centres in Copiapo (Chile). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 participants of the control of diabetes cohort (CODIACO) study in 2023. Women and men from 30 to 65 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus and users of primary health care centres of Copiapo were selected for the investigation. Pregnant and lactating women, and patients with diabetic neuropathy/nephropathy, cancer, and severe infectious or inflammatory diseases were excluded. It was administered a questionnaire about the frequency of consumption of certain food groups (fresh fruits; raw, cooked, precooked and frozen vegetables; nuts; legumes; blue and white fish; seafood; red and white meats; viscera; sausages; sweet ultra-processed foods; water; juices; carbonated drinks; coffee and tea), recording the frequency with which they were consumed (never, seldom, occasionally and usually). The results were expressed as mean and standard deviation or percentages. The CODIACO study was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the University de Atacama. The project was funded by FONDECYT (N° 11180794). The age of the 160 participants was 55.64 ± 7.48 years. Usual consumption of raw or cooked vegetables (80.0%), fresh fruit (71.3%), legumes (55.6%), and white meat (75.0%) was reported by the great majority of the individuals. To a lesser extent, nuts (36.3%), white fish (31.9%), blue fish (30.6%), and red meat (30.0%) were also widely consumed on a regular way in these subjects. In contrast, pre-cooked (66.9%), frozen vegetables (57.6%), seafood (55.0%), sausages (65.7%), offal (84.4%), juices (55.7%), carbonated beverages (65.0%) and coffee (57.2%) were seldom or never consumed, mostly. The results suggest relatively regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and white meats in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, users of primary health care centres in Copiapo (Chile). Otherwise, viscera, sausages, and precooked and frozen vegetables, as well as juices and carbonated beverages seem to be relatively little consumed in this population. Additional studies are required to know in depth the dietary habits of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus from the north of Chile.