Other Titles
Eating Habits and Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study in Adults in a Community in Southern Lima-2025 [Title Slide]
Abstract
Purpose: The growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Peru, particularly in urban-marginal districts such as Villa El Salvador, underscores the need to strengthen prevention strategies within primary healthcare. This study aimed to determine the association between healthy eating habits and the estimated risk of developing T2DM among adults living in a community of Lima Sur.
Methods: A quantitative, analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 adults aged 18–59 years. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and data were collected through structured surveys, anthropometric measurements, and home visits. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) was used to estimate 10-year diabetes risk, while healthy eating habits were assessed using the Brief Healthy Eating Habits Scale (BHEHS-6B). Covariables included age, sex, educational level, BMI, and waist circumference. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and Poisson regression with robust variance.
Results: Most participants presented a low estimated risk of T2DM (86.5%). Healthy eating scores were predominantly intermediate or adequate. A significant negative correlation was found between healthy eating habits and diabetes risk (rho = –0.239; p = 0.0006), indicating that higher BHEHS-6B scores were associated with lower FINDRISC scores. In the adjusted model, each additional point in the BHEHS-6B reduced the prevalence of high risk by 27.5% (PR = 0.725; 95% CI: 0.594–0.884; p = 0.0015), independent of sociodemographic factors.
Implications for Nursing: These findings reinforce the protective role of healthy eating in reducing T2DM risk and highlight the strategic role of community nurses in promoting nutrition education, early risk screening, and lifestyle counseling. Strengthening evidence-based interventions in primary care can significantly contribute to reducing diabetes burden in vulnerable urban populations.
Notes
Extensive reference list included in attached slide deck.
References:
World Health Organization. Diabetes fact sheet. 2021.
Meisinger C, Döring A, Thorand B. Association between diet quality and diabetes risk: A population study. Nutrients. 2020;12(7):1–12.
Lindström J, Tuomilehto J. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC). Diabetes Care. 2019;42(4):601–7.
Rodríguez LM, Rivas K, Paredes L. Healthy eating habits and metabolic risk in Latin American adults. Rev Salud Publica. 2022;24(3):1–10.
MINSA Perú. Norma Técnica de Alimentación Saludable y Prevención de Enfermedades Metabólicas. 2021
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Primary Care, Food Habits, Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes Risk Factors, Urban Health, Social Marginality, At-Risk People, Public Health, Lima (Peru)
Recommended Citation
Ordonez, Maria del Rosario Rodas and Almerco, Sheyla Alexa Valentina Carbonel, "Healthy Eating Habits and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in a Marginal Urban Community of Lima, Peru" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 281.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/281
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-21
Healthy Eating Habits and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in a Marginal Urban Community of Lima, Peru
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Purpose: The growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Peru, particularly in urban-marginal districts such as Villa El Salvador, underscores the need to strengthen prevention strategies within primary healthcare. This study aimed to determine the association between healthy eating habits and the estimated risk of developing T2DM among adults living in a community of Lima Sur.
Methods: A quantitative, analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 adults aged 18–59 years. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and data were collected through structured surveys, anthropometric measurements, and home visits. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) was used to estimate 10-year diabetes risk, while healthy eating habits were assessed using the Brief Healthy Eating Habits Scale (BHEHS-6B). Covariables included age, sex, educational level, BMI, and waist circumference. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and Poisson regression with robust variance.
Results: Most participants presented a low estimated risk of T2DM (86.5%). Healthy eating scores were predominantly intermediate or adequate. A significant negative correlation was found between healthy eating habits and diabetes risk (rho = –0.239; p = 0.0006), indicating that higher BHEHS-6B scores were associated with lower FINDRISC scores. In the adjusted model, each additional point in the BHEHS-6B reduced the prevalence of high risk by 27.5% (PR = 0.725; 95% CI: 0.594–0.884; p = 0.0015), independent of sociodemographic factors.
Implications for Nursing: These findings reinforce the protective role of healthy eating in reducing T2DM risk and highlight the strategic role of community nurses in promoting nutrition education, early risk screening, and lifestyle counseling. Strengthening evidence-based interventions in primary care can significantly contribute to reducing diabetes burden in vulnerable urban populations.
Description
Healthy eating habits play a critical role in preventing type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional study of 200 adults in a marginal urban district of Lima found a significant negative association between healthy eating and diabetes risk. Each additional point in the BHEHS-6B reduced high-risk prevalence by 27.5%. Findings support nutrition-focused prevention led by community nurses.