title: Energy and nutrient intakes of Sri Lankan patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sri Lanka has a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Energy and macronutrient intakes of diabetic patients have not been previously studied in this population. We aimed to clarify the energy and nutrient intakes among a group of type 2 diabetic patients attending a tertiary care diabetes facility in Sri Lanka.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutritional and energy intake of 123 randomly selected patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 30-74 years was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean energy intake for all participants was 1438 (SD 412) Kcal/day. The mean proportions of total carbohydrate, protein and fat comprising total energy intake were 68.1, 11.5 and 20.2 % respectively. The mean carbohydrate intake of 249.7 g/day comprised 50 % of rice. The mean daily protein, fat and dietary fibre intake was 42.5, 33 and 18.1 g respectively with a major contribution from plant sources. There was no significant difference in energy and nutrient intakes among the male and female participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides the first pilot data on the energy and macronutrient intakes of diabetes patients in Sri Lanka. We clarified that these patients consumed an energy restricted, high-carbohydrate low fat diet compared to western diabetic patients. A larger nationwide dietary survey is recommended to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. arjuna.medagama@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arjuna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medagama
authors.affiliation: Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Professor University of Kent Canterbury, Canterbury, UK. devakafernando@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Devaka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. heshan.hr4u@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Heshan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Widanapathirana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013188:Sri Lanka