Impact of Diabetes Mellitus, Its Duration, and Associated Complications on Nutritional Intake in Patients at Risk of Malnutrition: A Focused Nutritional Assessment

Background/Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disorder which affects carbohydrate metabolism and has been associated with other conditions such as disease-related malnutrition (DRM), leading to specific challenges in its management. This study aims to evaluate the implications of DM, its complications, and its duration on energy and protein intake in patients at high risk of malnutrition. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study in 179 patients with high risk of malnutrition. Patients were compared based on the presence or absence of DM, diabetes duration and the presence of complications. Age, gender, body mass index, bioimpedanciometry, ultrasonography and dynamometry parameters and the diagnosis of sarcopenia were recorded. Energy and protein requirements were calculated, and the composition of the patients’ three-day diet was analyzed. Results: DM was associated with lower weight-adjusted energy intake (Overall: 29.15 (9.99) vs. DM: 24.87 (8.28) vs. NoDM: 30.65 (10.13) kcal/kg/day; p < 0.01) and lower weight-adjusted protein intake (Overall: 1.29 (0.47) vs. DM: 1.18 (0.39) vs. NoDM: 1.33 (0.49) g of protein/kg/day; p < 0.05). DM was a risk factor for poorer compliance with energy requirements (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.13–5.01, p < 0.05). Similarly, the occurrence of complications was identified as a risk factor associated with reduced adherence to energy intake requirements (OR: 1.78, 95% CI 1.06–2.98; p < 0.05), and a duration of diabetes mellitus exceeding 10 years was linked to lower adherence to protein intake requirements (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.08–2.99; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Among patients at high risk of malnutrition, diabetes mellitus was associated with suboptimal adherence to both caloric and protein intake requirements. The presence of diabetes and its related complications emerged as risk factors for inadequate fulfillment of energy needs, while a longer disease duration was specifically linked to reduced compliance with protein requirements.