Effect of adherence to mediterranean diet and dash diet to glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Although it has been reported that diets affect glycemic status and anthropometric measurement values of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type II DM) and insulin resistance (IR), the related studies are very limited in the literature. This study was conducted with 70 volunteers (20 male, 50 female) aged 20-64 years who were admitted to Gölbaşı Şehit Ahmet Özsoy State Hospital Diet Clinic in order to evaluate the effect of adaptation of Mediterranean diet and DASH diet on biochemical parameters (fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, triglyseride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol) and anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, body fat ratio, body fat, lean body mass) of Type II DM and IR patients. The questionnaire includes general information, 24-hour diet recall, food frequency questionnaire, Mediterranean Diet Assessment Tool, DASH Diet Score and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. The questionnaire was applied by face to face interview method. Participants were interviewed at beginning of the study and three months later. In the study, adherence to Mediterranean diet showed a negative correlation with insulin levels (r=-0.468; p<0.01), and positive correlation with HDL-cholesterol (r=0.372; p<0.01). There was no correlation between DASH diet adherence with biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurement values (p>0.05). In conclusion, Mediterranean diet in patients with Type II DM and IR can be considered as nutrional therapy approaches that can improve the nutrional status and biochemical parameters of the patients. Further investigation is needed with regard to the role of the DASH diet on Type II DM and IR. Key Words: Mediterranean diet, DASH diet, type 2 diabetes, insülin resistance, glycemic control