Dietary Recall and Anthropometric Profile of Type 2 Diabetic Patients at a Teaching Hospital in Enugu

Managing type 2 diabetes requires sustained dietary adherence and lifestyle modification, yet many patients in Nigerian tertiary hospitals continue to consume nutritionally inadequate diets despite ongoing medical management. This study examines the dietary intake and anthropometric profile of type 2 diabetic patients attending the diabetes management clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, South East Nigeria. Poor glycaemic control in this population is frequently linked to high carbohydrate intake, inadequate dietary fibre, and irregular meal patterns. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, with 180 confirmed type 2 diabetic patients aged 30 to 75 years systematically sampled. Dietary intake was evaluated using a quantitative 24-hour dietary recall and a food frequency questionnaire assessing carbohydrate, fibre, fat, and protein intake. Anthropometric measurements including body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio were recorded. Fasting blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin records were obtained from clinical files. Findings are expected to indicate that most patients consume diets with high glycaemic loads and low fibre density, and that a significant proportion are overweight or obese. Inadequate diabetes-specific dietary counselling was identified as a contributing factor. The study recommends strengthening medical nutrition therapy services within diabetic care units in South East Nigeria. Keywords: type 2 diabetes, dietary recall, anthropometry, Enugu, glycaemic control.