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Objective: Trans-cultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA) was created by international task force and culturally customized for Malaysian population. This study was designed to evaluate its effectiveness versus usual diabetes care in primary care settings.
Research Design and Methods: We randomized 230 patients with overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes and A1C>7% to receive usual care (UC) or UC with tDNA for 6 months. The tDNA intervention consisted of structured low-calorie meal plan, diabetes-specific meal replacements and increased physical activity. Participants were counseled either through motivational interviewing (tDNA-MI) or conventional counseling (tDNA-CC). The UC group received standard dietary and exercise advice through conventional counseling. All patients were followed for another 6 months after intervention.
Results: At 6 months, A1C decreased significantly in tDNA-MI (-1.1±0.1%, p<0.001) and tDNA-CC (-0.5±0.1%, p=0.001) but not in UC (-0.2±0.1%,p=NS). Body weight decreased significantly in tDNA-MI (-6.9±1.3 kg, p<0.001) and tDNA-CC (-5.3±1.2 kg, p<0.001) but not in UC (-0.8±0.5 kg, p=NS). tDNA-MI patients had significantly lower fasting plasma glucose (tDNA-MI -1.1±0.3 mmol/L, p<0.001; tDNA-CC -0.6±0.3, p=0.951; UC : 0.1±0.3, p=NS) and systolic blood pressure (tDNA-MI: -9±2 mmHg, p<0.001; tDNA-CC: -9±2 mmHg, p=0.001; UC: -1±2 mmHg, p=NS). At one year, tDNA-MI patients maintained significant reduction in A1C (tDNA-MI: -0.5±0.2%, p=0.006 vs. tDNA-CC: 0.1±0.2, p=NS and UC 0.02±0.01, p=NS) and significant weight loss (tDNA-MI: -5.8±1.3 kg p<0.001 vs. tDNA-CC: -3.3±1.2 kg, p=0.086 and UC: 0.5±0.6 kg, p=NS).
Conclusions: Structured lifestyle intervention through culturally adapted nutrition algorithm and motivational interviewing significantly improve diabetes control and body weight in primary care settings.
Key words: tDNA, structured lifestyle intervention, type 2 diabetes, obesity, MNT