Original Research Article IP Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Science, April-June, 2019;2(2):43- 50 43 Anthropometric and nutritional profile of hospitalized diabetic eye disease patients Parmeet Kaur 1* , Veena Pandey 2 1 Chief Dietician, 2 Statistician, 1 Dept. of Dietetics, 1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, 2 Dr. R.P.Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India *Corresponding Author: Parmeet Kaur Email: parjaskaur@yahoo.com Abstract Objective: To assess anthropometric status and compare the nutritional intake of hospitalized diabetic eye disease (DED) patients with their recommended daily dietary requirements. Design: A Cross sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted, in the Ophthalmic sciences Centre of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Subjects: 62 adult patients hospitalized with type 1 or 2 diabetes > 20 years of age, on diabetes medication and/or basic insulin regimens were enrolled in the study. Interventions: Anthropometric measurements were done by standardized methods. Nutritional needs were determined by applying Mifflin St Joer predictive equations, multiplying by a combined stress and activity factor of 1.3. Results: DED patients were found to be obese. Analysis of dietary data indicate a significant difference (p < 0.0005) between average daily caloric and carbohydrate intake and needs. Conclusions: Findings of the present study will be useful in planning nutritional care process (NCP) and ultimately providing safe and quality medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for improving clinical outcome of hospitalized DED patients. Keywords: Diabetic eye disease, Anthropometry, Nutritional intake. Introduction Diabetes is rapidly acquiring the position of a prospective epidemic in India with more than 62 million diabetic individuals diagnosed with the disease. 1,2 The WHO estimates diabetes in India is likely to increase to 79.4 million in 2030. 3 This epidemic of diabetes is unfortunately paralleled by a corresponding increase in the prevalence of its complications, both microvascular and macrovascular, which account for much of the premature morbidity and mortality due to diabetes in India. 4-6 Diabetic eye disease (DED), is a complication associated with diabetes. It refers to a group of eye problems including, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma that can result from type 1 and type 2 diabetes causing most feared severe vision loss or even blindness as a long-term consequence of uncontrolled diabetes. 7 Increased visceral adipose tissue is also a known confounder of risk factors for age-related ocular disease. ,8,9 Hospitalized DED patients on insulin and/or insulin secretagogues, report incidents of hyperglycemia and hypoglycaemia due to sudden changes in food intake, medication and treatment schedules. 10 Blood glucose (BG) levels are often elevated during illness because of stress. Many patients with diabetes come to the hospital with high BG levels, or their BG levels become elevated during hospitalization. Certain medications and decreased physical activity during hospital stay contribute to elevated BG levels. Diabetic retinopathy is a highly specific vascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with prevalence strongly related to the duration of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is the most frequent cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20–74 years. Glaucoma, cataracts, and other disorders of the eye occur earlier and more frequently in people with diabetes. In addition to duration of diabetes, other factors that increase the risk of, or are associated with, retinopathy include chronic hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia has also been linked to immunosuppression, increased coagulapathies, increased infection rates, and prolonged lengths of hospitalizations. 11 It is recently suggested that hospitals consider implementing a meal planning system, based on most appropriate dietetic practice for better blood glucose management. As medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an integral component of clinical care for people and includes an assessment of nutritional status and the provision of specialized nutrition therapy. 12 After patients are identified and referred to nutrition care, the nutrition care process (NCP) includes systematic problem solving method that dietetics professionals use to critically think and make decisions. Although, implementing MNT can be a challenge for healthy people with diabetes, but it poses greater challenge for people who are hospitalized. As per available knowledge, no study has been conducted till date to address safe and effective, nutrition care process (NCP) in hospitalized diabetic patients in India. Thus, the present study was undertaken with the following Objectives 1. To assess anthropometric status of hospitalized DED patients. 2. To compare the nutritional intake of hospitalized DED patients with their recommended daily dietary requirements. Materials and Methods Study Design The proposed study was a cross sectional study of hospitalized DED patients. The study was conducted, in the General Wards of Dr. Rajendera Prasad centre for Ophthalmic sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences