Eating Problems, Diabetes Distress Associated with Worse Time-in-Range | AHA 2024
Patients with type 2 diabetes who had eating problems and higher levels of diabetes distress had worse time-in-range.
Eating problems and diabetes distress are both significantly associated with worse time-in-range in patients with diabetes, according to data presented at the American Heart Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions, held November 16 to 18 in Chicago, Illinois.1 Investigators said that targeted interventions could help patients achieve the recommended time-in-range.
Eating Problems, Diabetes Distress Associated with Worse Time-in-Range / Pixel-Shot - stock.adobe.com
Time-in-range, which is defined as the amount of time a patient with diabetes spends in a target glucose range, is thought to be a more accurate representation of diabetes management.2 Most people with diabetes should aim for a time-in-range—glucose values of 70 to 180mg per dL—of at least 70% of readings. However, there is currently a lack of research on how eating problems and diabetes distress impact time-in-range.
READ MORE: Pharmacist-Led CGM Workflow Could Help Improve Diabetes Outcomes
A team of investigators from Yale University conducted a study to determine if patients with the recommended time-in-range would have fewer eating problems or diabetes distress than patients without the recommended time-in-range. The study cohort included 53 adult patients with type 2 diabetes, of which 66% were female and 67.9% were White. About 70% of the patients had a time-in-range over 70%.
For the study, participants completed sociodemographic surveys, the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey, and the Diabetes Distress Scale. A 14-day blinded continuous glucose monitor was used to calculate time-in-range.
The study found the mean Diabetes Eating Problem Survey score was 31.65 ±10.05, indicating clinically significant disordered eating behaviors. Mean overall Diabetes Distress Scale scores of 2.0±1.0 indicated a moderate level of diabetes distress. Patients reported that regimen distress caused the highest levels of diabetes distress, followed by emotional burden.
In the group with recommended time-in-range, Diabetes Eating Problem Survey scores were significantly lower. Additionally, with the exception of physician-related distress, all scores from the Diabetes Distress Scale were significantly higher among patients without the recommended time-in-range.
“These findings suggest that interventions targeting eating problems and diabetes distress may help to achieve the recommended time-in-range,” the authors concluded. “Future research with a prospective study design and large sample size is needed to examine factors associated with time-in-range and its relationship in type 2 diabetes.”
READ MORE: Diabetes Resource Center
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