Sebnem BURHAN, Muhammed Zeki CICEK
Experimental Biomedical Research - 2026;9(4):324-335
Aim: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) imposes psychological and behavioral challenges. While prior research links eating habits, distress, and glycemic control, few studies explore these factors together. This study assessed the associations between night eating, eating patterns, diabetes distress (DDS), glycemic control, BMI, gender, and medication use in adults with T2DM. Methods: This study included 105 adults with T2DM. Night eating behavior, eating patterns, and DDS were evaluated using the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), the 18-item version of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-Revised (TFEQ-R18), and the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS). Results: NEQ score correlated with BMI (r=0.38, p=0.001) and remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, and HbA1c (p=0.002). TFEQ-R18 emotional eating inversely correlated with BMI (r=-0.36, p=0.001) and persisted after adjustment (p=0.004). Uncontrolled eating and cognitive restraint showed no links. Men scored higher on emotional eating than women (10.0 +/- 2.54 vs. 8.69 +/- 3.20, p = 0.02). Poor glycemic control had higher DDS emotional burden and regimen-related distress; NEQ and TFEQ-R18 scores did not differ by glycemic status or medication classes. Conclusion: DDS, particularly emotional burden and regimen-related distress, differed across HbA1c categories, but this was not confirmed in multivariable models. BMI, not glycemic control, more consistently predicted eating behavior and distress. Given the cross-sectional design and small sample size, the no significant association between eating behavior and glycemic control does not rule out a relationship. These findings support routine distress screening in diabetes care and larger prospective studies of these associations and their relationship to body weight.
