Adherence to Dietary Recommendations among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Barishal

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global public health challenge, with dietary adherence being crucial for effective management and glycemic control. Despite its importance, maintaining recommended dietary practices is often hindered by socioeconomic, cultural, and educational barriers, particularly in low-resource settings like Bangladesh. This study aimed to explore the adherence levels and influencing factors to enable the targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes and reduce diabetes-related complications in resource-constrained environments. Method: This study assessed dietary adherence among Type 2 diabetic patients at two hospitals in Barishal, Bangladesh, using a cross-sectional design. Data from 214 participants were collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. Ethical approval, informed consent, and validated tools ensured the study’s reliability, focusing on socio-demographics, medical history, and perceived dietary adherence. Results: The results revealed that the Four-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) indicated low medication adherence among participants (M = 3.62, SD = 0.722). Similarly, the mean score for perceived dietary adherence (M = 1.88, SD = 0.47) suggested that participants rarely to occasionally followed dietary recommendations, reflecting low adherence. Significant differences in dietary adherence were observed based on monthly family income (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), gender (t = 2.23, p = 0.02), education level (F = 3.03, p = 0.01), occupation (F = 3.26, p = 0.007), income expenditure (F = 3.29, p = 0.02), and stress control methods (F = 2.43, p = 0.04).Conclusion: Effective dietary education should incorporate activities that foster a more positive outlook toward managing the disease. This can be achieved through personalized counseling tailored to the patient's needs and emphasizing the importance of regular blood glucose monitoring.