Although patients are generally aware of the importance of diet and physical activity in diabetes management, adherence to these behaviours remains suboptimal. This study aimed to investigate the dietary habits of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and examine the factors influencing adherence to recommend dietary guidelines. In addition, this study aimed to explore participants’ perceptions regarding the role of diet in diabetes control and identify gaps between perceived importance and actual practices.

A hospital-based (National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases) cross-sectional study was conducted among 153 Patients with T2DM attending non-communicable disease (NCD) in Delhi, India. Dietary behaviour was measured using a modified version of the UK Diabetes and Diet Questionnaire (UKDDQ). Statistical analysis, including chi-square test and logistic regression, were performed to conduct univariate and multivariate assessments.

Participants most consistently followed certain healthy dietary behaviours, including complete avoidance of alcohol (97%), minimal intake of processed meats (91%), consumption of high-fibre breakfast foods (73.2%), and daily vegetable intake (63.9%). Common unhealthy practices included frequent consumption of sugary beverages (33.6%) and high–glycaemic index foods (20.2%). The mean composite dietary score was 61.2, with a median score of 64.5. Tertile analysis showed that increasing age was associated with lower odds of being in the middle or highest tertile of dietary scores. Women and individuals living in three-generation households were less likely to fall into the highest tertile.

The study findings suggested that almost half of the study participants had found overall healthy dietary patterns. Younger adults, men, and those from nuclear or joint families exhibited better adherence to recommended practices. The most prominent gap between perceived dietary importance and actual behaviour was observed for fruit intake and rice consumption.