Dietary Pattern and Associated Factors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals. Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia

Background Controlled diet plays a major role in delaying diseases progression among diabetes patients. Most diabetic patients find it challenging to choose the right kinds and amounts of food to eat, and that many are unaware of how important nutrition is for maintaining glycemic control. Objective The major aim of this study was to investigate the dietary patterns and associated factors in persons with type 2 diabetes attending Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Wolaita Zone, and South Ethiopia. Methods A total of 416 participants were selected for this study by systematic random sampling. Data was collected using structured questionnaire. The previous one week FFQ dietary intake, socio demographic, nutrition knowledge, lifestyle and FBS data were collected. Factors associated with the dietary patterns were analyzed using multiple linear regression models. The adjusted regression coefficients with their 95% CI were used to ascertain the association. Result Two major dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis that explained 20.7% of the variance in food consumption. The mixed dietary pattern was characterized by the consumption of raw meat, beef meat boiled, egg, false banana banked and coca cola, and positively associated with daily laborer [β = 0.1038, 95% CI: 0.319, 2.18]. The traditional dietary pattern was inversely associated with other comorbidities [β = -0.3, 95% CI: -0.62, 0.21)]. Conclusion: This study showed that two dietary patterns were identified explaining 20.7% of the total variance among the mixed dietary pattern explaining 10.6% while, the traditional dietary pattern explaining 10.11 of the total variance. These findings could provide some clues for programs targeting on improving dietary intake among Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia.