To investigate the effect of food intake on nutritional status of elderly patients with diabetes in a physical examination center.

In total 626 subjects who underwent physical examination in a physical examination center from November 20, 2021 to September 3, 2022 were divided into diabetic group (n=130) and non-diabetic group (n=496). The general information of the subjects was collected by questionnaire, the height and weight were measured by automatic monitor, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The mini nutritional assessment short-form (MNA-SF) was used to evaluate the nutrition of the subjects. The cumulative illness rating scale for geriatrics (CIRS-G) was used to evaluate the type and grade of concomitant diseases. According to the BMI level of subjects, the subjects in non-diabetic group and diabetic group were divided into obesity group, overweight group, and normal weight group. Dietary retrospective method was used to investigate the nutritional intake of different obese subjects.

The CIRS-G score of the diabetic group was higher than that of the control group (t=19.827, P < 0.05). The malnutrition rate and malnutrition risk rate in the diabetic group were 13.85% and 46.15%, respectively, which were higher than those in the non-diabetic group (6.25% and 42.34%, χ²=10.676, P < 0.05). The proportion of total energy intake excess in the diabetic group was 70.00%, which was higher than that in the non-diabetic group (39.92%,χ²=41.653, P < 0.05). The proportion of obesity in the diabetic group was 23.08%, which was higher than that in the non-diabetic group (13.71%, χ²=9.982, P < 0.05). The average daily total energy intake of obese group and overweight diabetic group was 2 487.43 ± 135.23 kcal and 2 214.28 ±119.59 kcal, respectively, which was higher than that of normal weight group(2 048.56 ± 121.65, F=117.227, P<0.05). There were significant differences in carbohydrate intake, carbohydrate energy supply, protein intake, and protein energy supply among obesity group, overweight group, and normal weight group (P < 0.05).

The malnutrition rate of diabetic patients in this physical examination center is high, and food intake affects the nutritional status of diabetic patients.