Physical, clinical and nutritional characterization of patients with insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that impairs glucose metabolism and represents a major global and national health challenge, including in Ecuador. This study, conducted at the General Hospital of Puyo, aimed to compare clinical parameters, physical health indicators, and nutritional habits between insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 177 participants were evaluated using data collected between 2022 and 2023. Findings revealed that insulin dependent individuals had significantly higher fasting glucose and HbA1c levels, indicating greater challenges in glycemic control. Physical health indicators such as BMI, blood pressure, and age showed minimal differences between the groups. Nutritional patterns were largely hypocaloric, with adaptations based on individual needs; normoproteic and normolipidic diets were most frequently reported. These results highlight the need for expanded studies with larger populations and longitudinal designs to better understand the progression of type 2 diabetes. Enhanced glycemic monitoring protocols especially for insulindependent patients and stronger integration of personalized nutritional strategies are essential to improve disease management and patient outcomes.