Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Obesity is rising worldwide and the number overweight or obese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is increased and eating habits (EH) and physical activity (PA) play an important role on glycemic control and weight gain. The aim of the present study was to examine the EH and the exercise level in patients with T1DM and their relation to body weight.

Methods: 126 patients with T1DM (55/126 males, 71/126 females) attending our outpatient clinics were studied. Their mean age was 34,53±11,9 years and the mean diabetes duration was 18,09±10,67 years. In all patients at baseline weight, height, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured. Food consumption and EH were assessed by a standardized semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. PA was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Patients were divided in two groups according to their BMI; GroupA= BMI <25 kg/m² and GroupB=BMI ≧25 kg/m²

Results: The mean BMI was 25,98±5,44 kg/m², WC 91,8±12 cm and HbA1c 7,63±1,63%. In GroupA 68/126 patients (53,95%) were included with a mean BMI 22,33±1,90 kg/m^2, WC 85,41±7,82 cm, age 32,5±11,72 years and diabetes duration 16,92±10,38 years and in GroupB 58/126 patients (46,03%) with a mean BMI 30,25±5,14 kg/m², WC 98,30±12,00 cm, age 36,91±11,76 years and diabetes duration 19,46±10,93 years. GroupA had a significantly lower HbA1c compared to GroupB (7,58±1,77% vs 7,69±1,45%, P=0,000).Patients in GroupB had more meals per day compared to GroupA, all patients in both groups had lunch, more patients in Group B skipped breakfast compared to GroupA (17,24% and 13,23% respectively). In GroupB patients were eating out or take away more frequently than those in GroupA. Eating out or take away was related with higher consumption of ’junk type of food’. Food and meal choices in both groups were made by the patients.In GroupA 1,47% had no PA last week, 7,35% had median and 10,29% intense PA three days last week. In GroupB 12,06% had no PA last week, 8,6% had median and 5,17% intense PA three days last week.

Conclusion: Overweight and obesity is increased among patients with T1DM with almost half of them to be overweight or obese. Overweight and obese patients have more meals per day, skip breakfast, eat out or take away more frequently, exercise less and have worse glycemic control than the non-obese ones. Education and early intervention is needed to improve these outcomes.