DETERMINANTS OF ADHERENCE TO DIETARY GUIDELINES AMONG TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS AT MOI TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL-KENYA

Diabetes is one of the major non-communicable diseases and an important public health problem not only in Kenya but all over the world. It is estimated that the prevalence of diabetes in Kenya is at 5% among adults. Although the care regimen is complex, patients with good diabetes self-care behaviors can attain excellent glycemic control. It is vital that patients adhere to their stipulated routines to minimize the burden of the disease on the healthcare systems. The objective of this study was to determine the association between socio-economic and demographic factors with adherence to dietary guidelines among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret. A cross-sectional study with mixed methods was conducted among 313 Type 2 DM patients at MTRH. Systematic random sampling was used to select the participants, while purposive sampling was used to select 6 key informants and 50 patients who participated in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Adherence to dietary guidelines was significantly associated with income (p< 0.001) and the frequency of attending clinics (p=0.001). Education levels (p= 0.634), Occupation (p=0.358) and Age (p=0.737) had no significant association with dietary adherence. Better ways should be explored in enhancing adherence to dietary guidelines for Type 2 DM patients with high income levels. The study findings are useful in informing implementation and evaluation of nutrition strategies for the control and management of Type 2 DM. This includes nutrition counseling and education, which would inform decisions leading to optimal quality care and cost-effectiveness in the management of Type 2DM.