Assessing Mealtime Macronutrient Content: Patient Perceptions Versus Expert Analyses via a Novel Phone App.

Creator(s)

Melanie B Gillingham
Zoey Li
Roy W. Beck
Peter Calhoun
Jessica R Castle
Mark A. Clements, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Eyal Dassau
Francis J. Doyle
Robin L. Gal
Peter Jacobs
Susana R. Patton
Michael R. Rickels
Michael Riddell
Corby K. Martin

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2021

Identifier

DOI: 10.1089/dia.2020.0357; PMCID: PMC7868577

Abstract

Background: People with type 1 diabetes estimate meal carbohydrate content to accurately dose insulin, yet, protein and fat content of meals also influences postprandial glycemia. We examined accuracy of macronutrient content estimation via a novel phone app. Participant estimates were compared with expert nutrition analyses performed via the Remote Food Photography Method© (RFPM©).

Methods: Data were collected through a novel phone app. Participants were asked to take photos of meals/snacks on the day of and day after scheduled exercise, enter carbohydrate estimates, and categorize meals as low, typical, or high protein and fat. Glycemia was measured via continuous glucose monitoring.

Results: Participants (n = 48) were 15-68 years (34 ± 14 years); 40% were female. The phone app plus RFPM© analysis captured 88% ± 29% of participants' estimated total energy expenditure. The majority (70%) of both low-protein and low-fat meals were accurately classified. Only 22% of high-protein meals and 17% of high-fat meals were accurately classified. Forty-nine percent of meals with± 17.2 g. The majority (64%) of large carbohydrate meals (≥60 g) were underestimated by an average of 53.6 ± 33.8 g. Glycemic response to large carbohydrate meals was similar between participants who underestimated or overestimated carbohydrate content, suggesting that factors beyond carbohydrate counting may impact postprandial glycemic response.

Conclusions: Accurate estimation of total macronutrients in meals could be leveraged to improve insulin decision support tools and closed loop insulin delivery systems; development of tools to improve macronutrient estimation skills should be considered.

Journal Title

Diabetes technology & therapeutics

Volume

23

Issue

2

First Page

85

Last Page

94

Keywords

Carbohydrate estimation; Macronutrients; Remote food photography method

Recommended Citation

Gillingham MB, Li Z, Beck RW, et al. Assessing Mealtime Macronutrient Content: Patient Perceptions Versus Expert Analyses via a Novel Phone App. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2021;23(2):85-94. doi:10.1089/dia.2020.0357