Optimal diet adherence can lead to better glycemic control. However, evidence on eating behavior is generally scarce. The present study aimed to assess the eating behavior of adults with type 2 diabetes.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 400 adults with T2DM from May 2022 to February 2023. For each patient, we conducted a thorough interview specifying the number of meals and snacks per day and any special eating habits for each patient as well as a biological parameters such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

The average age of our population was 58.56±8.9years with a female predominance of 66%. Overweight was noted in 77.8% of patients. In our population 1/5 did not accept their diabetes. Nutritional education was received by 71% of patients and adherence to diet was noted in 32.3% of them.

The majority of diabetic patients ate 3 meals a day and 12.8% only 2 meals a day. Prandial hyperphagia and night eating syndrome were respectively noted in 16.3% and 22% of patients. Among the 400 participants, snacking between main meals was noted in 38.8% of cases including 3% who ate 3 snacks a day and 49.5% who eat 1 to 2 snacks a day.

Diabetes was poorly controlled in most of our patients with an average HbA1c of 10.28±2%.

Nutritional education for diabetic patients must be maintained at every consultation to optimal diet adherence and to improve glycemic control.