Carbohydrate -Food knowledge of Emirati and Omani Adults with Diabetes: Results of a pilot study

ABSTRACT

There is limited research on nutrition knowledge related to diabetes management in persons with diabetes in the United Arab Emirates and other Arabian Gulf countries. Carbohydrate - containing foods have the greatest impact on post-meal blood glucose levels. The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine nutrition knowledge related to carbohydrate- containing foods of adults with diabetes in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. A culturally-appropriate questionnaire was used to assess carbohydrate - food knowledge in a convenience sample of 94 Emirati and Omani men and women with diabetes [age [mean +/- s.d.] 50 +/- 13.5 years] residing in the cities of Al Ain and Al Bureimi. Carbohydrate-food knowledge score [mean +/- s.d.] was 6.3 +/- 2 [maximum 14], reflecting low knowledge of food sources of carbohydrate. Ninety-three percent of the study participants believed that whole wheat bread does not increase their blood glucose levels and 88% of them did not think that unsweetened fruit juices can increase blood glucose levels. Further, scores for the Omani citizens were significantly lower than those of Emirati counterparts, mean difference 2.3 [95% confidence interval1.5-3.1]. Significant [p < 0.05] differences in carbohydrate food knowledge scores between the 2 groups were found for 5 of the 14 food items assessed. The results of this study underscore the importance of nutrition education programs for persons with diabetes in these 2 communities