Cross-Sectional Survey of Dietary Habits of the Elderly Population with Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction : It is well established that the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) increases with age. It has been shown to be difficult and unlikely for the elderly to change their dietary habits, therefore knowledge of the basic dietary habits of the elderly population has significant meaning for public health nutrition. The first objective of this study was to understand the dietary habits of residents of Shigenobu-cho (present-day Toon City) aged 60 years and above. The second objective of this study was to assess the dietary habits of the elderly population with DM in comparison to the elderly population without DM.Methods : Considering the public debate regarding the relationship between eating habits and DM, and the limitations of previous studies, we conducted multi-purpose cohort studies to evaluate DM prevalence and dietary habits of elderly residents in Shigenobu-cho.Results : Men did not show a tendency towards a particular diet type, regardless of whether or not they had DM. In contrast, women with DM had a tendency to report traditional Japanese food dietary patterns.Discussion : Elderly persons have often followed the same diet for decades, and previous findings indicate that change in dietary habits is limited among the elderly. Therefore, it is incumbent upon public health nurses and nutritionists to understand the eating patterns among this population, and educate elderly patients diagnosed with DM about healthier, alternative dietary habits