Enhanced carbohydrate craving in patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aims: Although hyperphagia is a common manifestation of diabetes mellitus, data on food craving in patients with diabetes are limited. This study compared food craving in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and a control group without diabetes. Methods: A total of 210 subjects (105 with Type 2 diabetes and 105 age-, sex- and BMI-matched control subjects) participated in two food craving surveys. The surveys were as follows: the General Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait, which assesses the general trait of food craving; and the Food Cravings Questionnaire-State, which assesses the state of food craving or current desire for high-carbohydrate or high-fat foods in response to pictures of food. Follow-up Food Cravings Questionnaire-State surveys were administered approximately 3 months later to the subjects with diabetes. Survey results were analysed to assess relationships between food craving and glycaemic control. Results: The General Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait scores in the group with Type 2 diabetes and the control group were not significantly different. The group with Type 2 diabetes had higher carbohydrate craving scores, but lower fat craving scores, than the control group. Carbohydrate craving scores in subjects with diabetes were positively correlated with HbA_1c. In follow-up surveys, carbohydrate craving scores declined in patients with improved glycaemic control. Conclusions: The surveys showed that patients with Type 2 diabetes had higher carbohydrate cravings and lower fat cravings than the age-, sex- and BMI-matched control group. Carbohydrate craving in patients with diabetes was associated with poor glycaemic control.