Regularly timed meals are associated with dietary nutrient intake and glycemic control

초록

Medical nutritional therapy is an essential component of diabetes management. Maintaining regularly timed meals are recommended to patients with type 2 diabetes. In this study, we examined whether having regularly timed meals was associated with improved glycemic control. A total of 1177 type 2 diabetic patients enrolled in the Korean National Diabetes Program was included in the study. The 3rd year follow up evaluation was used for a cross sectional analysis. Regularly timed meal frequency was evaluated using a questionnaire, consisting of four answers; every day, 3-4 days per week, 1-2days per week, less than 1 day per week. 68.4% of the patients had regularly time meals every day, 23.4% had regularly timed meals 3-4 days per week, 5.7% had regularly timed meals 1-2 days per week, and 2.4% had regularly timed meals less than 1 day per week. Regularly timed meals was associated with older age, lower body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, triglyceride and higher HDL-cholesterol. Patients with more frequent regularly timed meals had lower stress level and higher activity level and higher intake of dietary fiber, protein, poly and monounsaturated fatty acids. More frequent regularly timed meals were associated with higher odds of having HbA1c of lower than 7% after adjustment for age, diabetes duration, gender, stress and activity level and BMI. But after further adjustment for calorie, fiber intake and protein intake the association was attenuated. Maintaining a regularly timed meal may be beneficial for glycemic control. The benefit may be associated with healthier intake of nutrients.