Efecto de una intervención nutricional sobre los conocimientos, consumo de alimentos, indicadores antropométricos y bioquímicos en adultos peruanos con diabetes mellitus tipo II

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a public health problem in Peru, with an increase in chronic complications due to poor disease management. Objective: To determine the effect of a nutritional intervention on knowledge, food consumption, anthropometric and biochemical indicators in adults with T2DM in Peru. Methods: A quasi-experimental quantitative study was conducted on 61 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the year 2024. Knowledge (measured by DKQ-24), dietary intake frequency (measured by *FFQ), BMI (kg/m^2), waist circumference (cm), fasting glucose (mg/dL), and lipid profile (mg/dL) were assessed at baseline and after 3 months, during which six nutritional educational sessions were implemented. For statistical analysis, the Wilcoxon test was used to compare the variables before and after the intervention. Results: Following the nutritional intervention, there were significant changes in knowledge (p=0.001), with an increase from 23% to 90.2% in high levels; dietary intake frequency (p=<0.005) showed an increase in daily vegetable consumption from 11.5% to 70.3%, fruits from 41% to 73.7%, and whole grains from 8.2% to 27.9%. There was a significant reduction in waist circumference (p=0.006), as well as in total cholesterol (Col-T) (p=0.003), VLDL (p=0.043), and triglycerides (p=0.046). Conclusion: The nutritional education program is effective in improving knowledge levels, healthy food consumption, waist circumference, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, which contribute to the reduction of chronic complications.