Prediabetes awareness is not associated with lower consumption of self-reported added sugar in U.S. adults

Ann Epidemiol. 2022 Nov:75:21-24. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2022.08.039. Epub 2022 Aug 27.

Abstract

Aims: Adults aware of having prediabetes report engaging in dietary risk-reduction behavior changes. However, no studies have assessed if prediabetes awareness influences self-reported consumption of added sugar.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from 3314 adults, 20 years and older, with prediabetes were analyzed from 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Survey-weighted ordinary least squares regression was used to test whether prediabetes awareness was associated with usual intake of added sugar (g/day) using the National Cancer Institute Method by age, sex, and race/Hispanic origin after controlling for sociodemographic covariates.

Results: Among 3314 adults with prediabetes, 528 reported being aware and 2786 reported being unaware of their condition. Prediabetes awareness was not significantly associated with added sugar consumption (estimated difference 1.7 g; 95% CI: - .80, 4.20; P = .18). There were no significant differences in added sugar consumption among those aware of their condition for age, sex, or race/Hispanic origin (Type 3 test for age: P = .15, male: P = .86, race, and Hispanic origin: P = .89).

Conclusion: Adults with prediabetes, aware of their condition, do not consume significantly lower quantities of added sugar compared to unaware adults, including no differences observed by age, sex, and race/Hispanic origin.

Keywords: Added sugar; Dietary risk-reduction behaviors; NHANES; National Cancer Institute Method; Prediabetes; Prediabetes awareness; Type 2 Diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dietary Sugars
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Prediabetic State* / diagnosis
  • Prediabetic State* / epidemiology
  • Self Report
  • Sugars
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Sugars
  • Dietary Sugars