THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIETARY ADHERENCE AND BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS AT SOOKO PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that requires continuous management to maintain blood glucose levels within a controlled range. Dietary adherence is an important component of diabetes management, particularly through the application of the principles of appropriate food quantity, type, and meal schedule. This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary adherence and blood glucose levels among patients with Diabetes Mellitus at Sooko Public Health Center.This study employed a quantitative method with a descriptive-correlational design and a cross-sectional approach. The study population consisted of 1,894 patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, with a sample of 95 respondents selected using purpos-ive sampling. Dietary adherence was measured using the Perceived Dietary Ad-herence Questionnaire (PDAQ), while blood glucose levels were measured using a glucometer. Data were analyzed using the Spearman Rank correlation test with a significance level of α = 0.05.The majority of respondents had a moderate level of dietary adherence, consisting of 47 respondents (49.5%), followed by 32 respond-ents (33.7%) with poor dietary adherence and 16 respondents (16.8%) with good dietary adherence. Most respondents had normal blood glucose levels, totaling 64 respondents (67.4%), while 28 respondents (29.5%) had hyperglycemia and 3 re-spondents (3.2%) had hypoglycemia. The Spearman Rank test indicated a signifi-cant relationship between dietary adherence and blood glucose levels, with a cor-relation coefficient of r = -0.361 and p < 0.001.There was a significant negative relationship with a weak correlation between dietary adherence and blood glucose levels among patients with Diabetes Mellitus at Sooko Public Health Center. Bet-ter dietary adherence was associated with a greater tendency toward lower and more controlled blood glucose levels. Continuous dietary education and support are recommended to help maintain blood glucose control among patients with Di-abetes Mellitus.