Authors

Marylen Rimando, Mercer UniversityFollow
Faye Lopez, Mercer UniversityFollow
Haritha Battula, Mercer University

Relationship of Fruit and Vegetable Servings and Self-Reported Diabetics in the Southeast and Northeast

Abstract

According to the American Diabetes Association, most diabetic patients are not consuming the recommended 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruits a day. This study examined fruit and vegetable servings of self-reported diabetics (N=35,407) in select southeastern and northeastern states using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2005 data. The estimate for both fruit and vegetable servings and self-reported diabetes was determined using multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographics and geographic region. The results indicated a significant difference between fruit and vegetable servings for diabetics and non-diabetics (p<0.0001). A higher percentage of diabetics in the northeast consumed more than three servings of fruit and vegetables when compared to diabetics in the southeast. Respondents in the northeast were 21% more likely to consume five or more servings of fruit and vegetables and 16% less likely to be diabetic than those in the southeast after adjusting for age, race, sex, and geographic region. In conclusion, diabetics in the northeast consumed more servings of fruit and vegetables than did those in the southeast. Multiple factors influence fruit and vegetable consumption and diabetes and should be considered when developing targeted nutritional interventions. Diabetes educators, nurses, and physicians can encourage diabetic patients to consume more fruit and vegetables and motivate them to continue eating fruit and vegetables.

First Page

43

Last Page

50

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Rimando, Marylen; Lopez, Faye; and Battula, Haritha (2007) "Relationship of Fruit and Vegetable Servings and Self-Reported Diabetics in the Southeast and Northeast," Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association: Vol. 2: No. 1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.20429/jgpha.2007.020105
Available at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/jgpha/vol2/iss1/5