Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences." Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-105).

Home health services are increasing for elderly individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases which are often treated by diet modification. This study was undertaken to evaluate the diabetic homebound client's understanding of and compliance to his/her prescribed diet. An interviewer assisted modified food frequency and food habit questionnaire was completed by 20 male and 28 female home care clients, ranging in age from 51 to 91 years. Living in a metropolitan area, these respondents met the Medicare definition of homebound and were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Computer driven dietary analysis was completed from questionnaire responses to estimate the food and nutrient intake of the home care clients. Calculated food intake was compared to physician diet orders taken from the home care medical record and to respondents' verbalization of their diet orders. This comparison was based on the composite diet and the components of energy, sodium, and cholesterol or fat. These findings were evaluated according to sex, age, length of time respondent had been diagnosed as diabetic, and a vulnerability index based on living situation using Chi square methods. / Master of Science

About 8.3% of individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) are diagnosed with comorbid depression, a higher rate than the general adult population. This project examined the differences of depression symptoms experienced between diabetic and matched non-diabetic individuals and the relationship of daily activity and nutrition behaviors with depression between these groups. The 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was utilized to assess: depression symptoms, diabetic glycemic control as measured by glycoginated hemoglobin (HbA1c), amount of physical activity, percentage of macronutrients, daily frequencies of foods consumed, and the use of nutritional food labels to make food choices. A sample of diabetic (n = 451) and non-diabetic individuals (n = 451) were matched to on age, gender, ethnicity, and education. The diabetic individuals experienced greater depression on both continuous and ordinal diagnostic variables. Counter to expectation, there was no relationship observed between depression and HbA1c in diabetic individuals, r = .04, p > .05.