NDAU,EDINA LEONARD2025-03-042025-03-042013https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6608ThesisThis study was designed to investigate the dietary habits and their influence on diabetic complications among type 2 diabetics. Purposive and random sampling were used to obtain a sample of 84 diabetic subjects who were already on treatment. Data were analyzed using Predictive Analysis Software (PASW) program version 16.0. Results showed that, 66.7% (n = 56) of the respondents had poor dietary habits, whereby most of the subjects consumed foods with high glycemic index almost daily. Most commonly foods consumed included refined maize “ugali”, white breads, chapatti, buns, water­ melon, soda, white rice, pineapples and honey. Poor dietary habits among type 2 diabetics were the main reason for complications related to diabetes. The most common diabetic complications reported by the respondents were hypertension, kidney problems, eye problems, foot problems, stroke, nerve problems, vaginal fungus, sexual problems and hypotension. Biomedical measures that were strongly correlated with diabetic complications were body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, body fat mass, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose. Lifestyle behaviors that were strongly correlated with the diabetic complications were lack of physical exercises and alcohol consumption. Based on this study, the best dietary and lifestyle behaviors that were best predictors for diabetic complications, were age, sex, and waist-hip-ratio and vegetables consumption. It was concluded from this study that, poor dietary management practices associated with inappropriate food selection and lack of physical exercises among the respondents were the major factors that influenced diabetic related complications. Therefore, it was recommended based on the findings of this study that, diabetic patients should be educated on the importance of physical exercises and their role in clearing out glucose and insulin resistance. Also, they should be taught on selection of low glycemic index foods (meal patterns) which are available in their localities in order to improve the quality of life and increasing their survival.enDietary habitsDiabetic complicationsGlycemic indexHypertensionThesis