The Risk of T2DM in College Women: The Predictive Power of Financial versus Residential Status in a Cross-Sectional Pilot Study in Turkey

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between dietary habits, income levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk in Turkish female university students who are living with their family or in the dormitory. Materials and Methods: This work was a cross-sectional pilot study conducted during December 2016–January 2017 in Istanbul Yeni Yuzyıl University. A survey was administered to 100 female students, 60 living with their family and 40 in dormitories. Income level was determined based on TURKSTAT 2015 percentiles. T2DM risk was determined using the Finnish Diabetes Association Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Form (FINDRISC). Food frequency questionnaire and 24 h dietary recall results were analyzed by the diet analysis software Beslenme Bilgi Sistemi (BeBiS), specially developed for Turkey. Results: Results indicated inadequacies and imbalanced nutrition among female college students overall. Notably, there was a statistically significant higher diet quality for the students living with their families compared to those living in dormitories. Income level was consistently positively associated with better nutritional outcomes, while negatively associated with T2DM risk, but interestingly, only in the case of students living in the dormitory and not for those living with family. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that financial status, rather than living in the dormitory versus with family, is positively associated with increased T2DM risk as assessed via FINDRISC among Turkish female college students. This study’s results indicate a potential need for educational programs and nutritional support for students, particularly those living away from family.