O-76 Food consumption patterns of people living with diabetes in Trinidad
Author(s):
C Mitchell, DT Simeon
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: To examine the food consumption of persons
living with diabetes (PLWD) in Trinidad considering recent
guidelines that promote plant-rich diets.
Methods: A survey was conducted among adult PLWD at public health centres in Trinidad. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered instrument that included a qualitative food-frequency questionnaire, demographics, and medical history. A plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (HPDI), and an unhealthful plantbased diet index (UPDI) were calculated using the frequency of consumption of individual foods from never (0) to daily (4). For PDI, all plant foods received positive scores, while the consumption scores of animal foods were reversed. HPDI, healthy plant foods received positive scores, while animal foods and unhealthy plant foods received reverse scores. UPDI, healthy plant foods received reversed scores, while animal foods and unhealthy plant foods received positive scores. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the predictors of the top quintile for each diet index.
Results: Sample n=567 patients, daily consumption included Unrefined Staples (57.8%), Refined Staples (23.3%), Vegetables (63.3%), Fruits (46.9%), Legumes (30.7%), Foods from Animals (52.4%), and Oils/Fats (73%). Predictors of PDI were ethnicity (South Asians were most likely to be in the top quintile, p=0.002), education (patients with postsecondary education had highest odds of being in the top quintile, p=0.001) and co-diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) (such persons were more likely to be in the highest quintile, p=0.028). Predictors of UPDI were sex (p<0.001) and age (p=0.002). Males and younger patients were more likely to be the top quintile of UPDI scores. No recorded predictors of HPDI.
Conclusion: Ethnicity, educational level and a co-diagnosis of HTN were found to be predictors of consumption of plant-based diets. These findings, however, should first be validated before being utilized for interventions aimed at promoting plant rich diets in PLWD. More research is needed to determine the value of these indices in Caribbean populations.