The Relationship Between Diet Quality of Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and Nutritional Status and Biochemical Parameters

Objective: Studies have shown that adolescents with type 1 diabetes do not have adequate diet quality and are, therefore, at risk for macro/microcomplications and growth retardation. This study aims to determine the diet quality of adolescents with type 1 diabetes and evaluate the relationship between diet quality and nutritional status as well as biochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of adolescents (10-19 years old) with type 1 diabetes. The questionnaire administered to the participants is composed of sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical data. Furthermore, the food consumption status of the participants was determined by a 3-day food consumption record. HEI-2010 score calculated and adolescents are classified according to their diet quality. Results: The majority of the adolescents with type 1 diabetes who participated in the study were found to have needs improvement diet quality. However, very few participants were with good diet quality. A weak and negative relationship between exist diet quality scores of the male participants and their waist circumferences and HbA1c (p<0.05) values. Conclusion: Diet quality has been thought to have an important role in the medical nutrition treatment of type 1 diabetes which is related to blood glucose control and blood lipid profile nutritional status. Therefore, the diet quality of adolescents with type 1 diabetes should be increased.