Nutritional attitudes of insulin users and non-users with Type 2 diabetes: A comparative study

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Dietary habits play a pivotal role in the management of type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to compare the nutritional attitudes of patients receiving insulin therapy with those treated exclusively with oral antidiabetic agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was conducted between December 1, 2024, and May 1, 2025, with 300 volunteer individuals aged 18 and older who were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and applied to the diabetes and family medicine outpatient clinics of Sakarya Training and Research Hospital, as well as the educational family health center. Data were collected face-to-face by the researcher using a questionnaire method. The study was designed as a descriptive crosssectional study, and statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 26.0 software, with a significance level set at p<0.05. RESULTS: In our study, Type 2 diabetes patients using insulin had a mean Healthy Eating Attitude Scale (SBİTÖ) score of 58.76 ± 18.29, while non-insulin users scored 73.90 ± 15.29. Non-insulin users showed significantly higher total and subscale scores. Insulin users had longer disease duration, more complications, and poorer adherence to healthy eating habits, despite a higher rate of diabetes education. Female participants had significantly higher SBİTÖ scores than males, whereas insulin use was more common among men within their gender group. Additionally, individuals living in urban areas and those who did not smoke or consume alcohol exhibited more positive nutritional attitudes. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that effective Type 2 diabetes management requires considering psychosocial, environmental, genetic, and gender-related factors alongside glycemic control. Family medicine plays a key role in this multidimensional approach. Regular follow-up, personalized nutrition counseling, and continuous education in primary care can enhance dietary attitudes, reduce complications, and promote holistic diabetes management. Keywords: Feeding behavior, insulin, type 2 diabetes