The Correlation Between Dietary Pattern and Health Status Among Elderly Patients with Diabetes

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus increases as someone grows older. This increase is related to changes in lifestyle, including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, eating patterns that lacks of vegetables and fruits, obesity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. This study aims to determine the correlation between diet and the health status of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. This research is a quantitative study with cross sectional design. The sampling technique used was a quota sampling which generated 50 elderly patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Univariate analysis was in the form of frequency distribution, and bivariate analysis used chi square. The instruments were a dietary questionnaire, stature meter and stepping scales to measure BMI, metlin to measure pelvic circumference, and easy touch sticks to assess fasting blood sugar levels and blood cholesterol levels. The results showed that most DM patients aged ≥ 60 years (60%), had elementary education (74.0%), had a family history of Diabetes Mellitus (62%), were female (92%), had a good diet (58.0%), had high blood sugar levels (84.0%), obese body mass index (36%), high limit cholesterol levels (46%), central obesity (84%). Eating patterns are not related to fasting blood sugar levels (p value = 0.828), are not related to cholesterol levels (p value = 0.088), are associated with obesity (p value = 0.025), are not related to central obesity (p value = 0.441).