Effectiveness of Nutritional Education Interventions on Glycemic Outcomes Among Low-Income Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in Lodhran

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major public health concern in low-resource settings, where limited dietary awareness, low health literacy, and restricted access to structured nutrition counseling contribute to poor glycemic control. Structured nutrition education may provide a feasible strategy for improving diabetes self-management among low-income patients. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a structured nutrition education intervention on HbA1c levels among low-income adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Lodhran, Pakistan. Methods: A single-group quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study was conducted at Shahida Islam Teaching Hospital, Lodhran. Twenty-nine adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected through convenience sampling. Baseline demographic characteristics and pre-intervention HbA1c were recorded, followed by a structured nutrition education intervention. Post-intervention HbA1c was measured and compared with baseline values. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics and paired-sample t-test were applied, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Most participants were aged 46–55 years, 55.2% were female, 51.7% had no formal education, and all had no previous nutrition counseling. Mean HbA1c decreased from 8.15 ± 1.41% before the intervention to 6.80 ± 1.10% after the intervention, with a mean reduction of 1.36 percentage points, 95% CI 1.03–1.69, t(28) = 8.497, and p < 0.001. Conclusion: Structured nutrition education was associated with a significant within-participant reduction in HbA1c among low-income adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Larger controlled studies with longer follow-up are recommended to confirm effectiveness and sustainability