Impact of periodic counselling of diet and lifestyle modification on glycaemic index in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background- Lifestyle modification and therapeutic nutrition are widely regarded as fundamental strategies in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. Aim assnd Objective- To determine the effect of periodic counselling on lifestyle changes and its impact on HbA1c levels of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Methodology- A randomised controlled trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio was conducted in the medicine department at a tertiary care centre in northern India. Type 2 diabetes Mellitus patients between 30 and 65 years were enrolled and randomly assigned to the control group (CG) or the experimental group (EG). Both groups received counselling on diet, exercise (physical activity), lifestyle modification, and disease management. The CG was asked to visit for follow-up after six months, whereas the EG was scheduled for monthly visits for periodic counselling over the six-month study period. Results- Among the 110 diabetic study participants, the mean age was 48.24 ± 10.126 years in the control group and 50.87 ± 10.540 years in the intervention group. A significant difference was found between the two groups in fasting and postprandial glucose levels at the fourth and fifth follow-up visits. The HbA1c values at six months differed significantly between the groups (p = 0.008). Within the intervention group, the change in HbA1c from baseline to both follow-up assessments was highly statistically significant (p = 0.0001). Conclusion- Periodic counselling on lifestyle modification and diet, along with adherence, can significantly improve diabetes control and management even within 6 months of intervention.