IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION ON MILLET CONSUMPTION IN TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS: A PRE-POST STUDY

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Background: Diabetes has become a major health crisis worldwide, ranking among the top causes of death alongside heart disease, respiratory problems, and cancer. The World Health Organization reports that noncommunicable diseases like diabetes were responsible for 74% of global deaths in 2019, with diabetes alone claiming 1.6 million lives, making it the ninth leading cause of death globally. Despite these statistics, awareness and consumption of beneficial foods like millet, which have a low glycemic index and offer potential benefits for diabetic patients, remain limited. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions on promoting millet consumption among type 2 diabetes patients using a pre-and post-study design. To assess the awareness of millets, deliver educational interventions on their benefits for diabetes management, and identify barriers and facilitators to millet consumption. The study also focuses on analysing the gap in understanding regarding millet consumption among individuals with type 2 diabetes Mellitus. Methodology: This interventional cohort study was conducted at D.Y. Patil Hospital Nerul, Navi Mumbai, over six months with a 30-day follow-up period. A convenience sample of 100 type 2 diabetes patients, both inpatients and outpatients, participated. Data were collected using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, and an educational tool titled "Millet SMART," along with a take-away brochure. The pre-intervention questionnaire gathered baseline data, followed by an educational session, and post-intervention data collection via telephonic interviews. Results: The study involved 100 type 2 diabetes patients, with an even gender distribution and a majority aged between 56-65 years. Initially, 69% of participants were unfamiliar with millets, and 68% had never consumed millet-based foods. Post-intervention, familiarity with millets rose to 67%, and millet consumption significantly increased. Preferences for millet included flour (33%), millet-based products (20%), and whole grains (10%). Motivations for millet consumption were primarily health benefits (39%) and taste preferences (20%). Despite the increase in millet consumption, barriers such as time constraints (11%), limited availability (10%), and lack of preparation knowledge (5%) were noted, alongside taste concerns (18%). Satisfaction levels were high regarding satiety (50%) and affordability (35%), although taste satisfaction was mixed. Importantly, the intervention led to a significant reduction in mean blood glucose levels, from 157.48 mg/dl preintervention to 125.83 mg/dl post-intervention (p < 0.001). Additionally, 57% of participants expressed intent to continue millet consumption. These findings indicate that educational interventions can effectively increase millet consumption and improve glycemic control among type 2 diabetes patients. Conclusion: The study concluded that educational interventions significantly enhance millet consumption and improve blood sugar levels among type 2 diabetes patients. The substantial reduction in mean blood glucose levels post-intervention underscores the potential impact of incorporating millet into dietary practices for diabetes management. However, the study also identified barriers to millet adoption, such as time constraints, limited availability, and lack of knowledge on preparation, highlighting the complexity of implementing dietary changes. Addressing these barriers is critical to ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of such interventions. The findings suggest that integrating nutritional education into diabetes management strategies can promote healthier dietary habits and improve overall patient outcomes. Nevertheless, further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is necessary to confirm the long-term benefits and broader implications of millet consumption on diabetes management.

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