Intention and perceptions of healthy eating versus actual intake among patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and the general population

Purpose: Intention and perceptions of healthy eating may affect diet-related behavior. We assessed the intention and perceptions of eating healthily in patients with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with the general population. Secondly, differences in diet quality were assessed in patients with diabetes perceiving their dietary habits as more or less healthy.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included data on socioeconomic status, dietary intake, and questions on healthy eating from adults with T1D (n=426), T2D (n=348) and from the general population (n=2899). Results: Patients with T2D were less likely to perceive their dietary habits as healthy compared with T1D and the general population.

Patients with T1D or T2D perceiving their dietary habits as healthy reported higher intake of vegetables, fruit, fish, fibre and protein. In addition, patients with T1D with perceived healthy versus less healthy dietary habits had lower sugar intake and higher alcohol intake. Overall, adherence to dietary guidelines in patients with T1D and T2D was too low both in self-perceived healthy and less healthy eaters.

In comparison with T1D patients, patients with T2D were less likely and the general population was more likely to strive to eat a healthy diet. Conclusion: Patients with T2D had poorer self-perception of their dietary healthiness and less intention of eating healthily, compared with patients with T1D and the general population.

Actual diet quality was higher amongst patients with T1D and T2D perceiving their dietary habits as healthy than those perceiving their dietary habits as less healthy. But inadequate intakes were found in all groups. Health care providers should address and explore the patient’s intention and perceptions of healthy eating when discussing dietary changes in diabetes to improve nutritional support.