Abstract:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), is a life-threatening condition of global public health concern. It
worsens in the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a complex disorder characterized by co-occurrence of
at least three of such factors as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. However, lifestyle
interventions reduce the risk of both MetS and T2D, and nutrition education can empower individuals on the
appropriate, lifestyle changes. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of a nutrition education
programme, with and without inclusion of peer to peer support, on MetS in T2D patients.
Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial with two intervention groups and one control. One of the
intervention groups involved a nutrition education programme with peer-to-peer support (NEP); the other involved
only the education program, while the control received standard care. Each group had 51 participants. The
nutrition education programme was conducted for 2 h per week for 8 weeks. In addition, the NEP had weekly peerto-
peer interactions for 8 weeks. All groups had follow-up sessions for 6 months. Data on MetS risk factors as well as
food intake patterns and physical activity levels were taken at baseline and at different time points during the
study. Analysis of Co-variance and regression were used in the analysis.
Results: The MetS prevalence improved in the NEP (90 to 52%) and NE (86 to 69%), while it worsened in C (88 to
91%). There was improvement in the mean values of the anthropometric parameters in the NEP and NE which
worsened in the control group. There was a general improvement in mean values of blood lipids, fasting blood
glucose and HbA1c in all the groups, with NEP showing the greatest improvements, followed by NE, except for
triglycerides and HDL where the control group had better improvement than the NE. Changes in the
anthropometric and metabolic indicators mirrored the changes in food intake patterns and physical activity, where
the greatest improvements occurred in the NEP.
