**3. Results**

The characteristics of the groups are summarized in Table 2. The distribution of study participants according to insulin therapy was almost equal (52% MDIs vs. 48% CSII users). The majority of patients with T1DM had well-controlled diabetes (glycated hemoglobin —7%). Most of the study respondents (60%) had a normal BMI, 25% and 9%, respectively, were overweight or obese, while 6% were underweight. There were statistically significant differences in body weight and BMI between the healthy and the T1DM groups. People with T1DM had excess body weight and higher BMI more often than healthy persons. The same trend was noticed when the groups were distinguished according to the insulin therapy used. Additionally, in those using pens both parameters were higher compared to users of insulin pumps and healthy persons.


**Table 2.** Baseline characteristic of study groups.

Values are expressed as median, lower, and upper quartile (Me (Q1–Q3)) or percentage of respondents (%). Abbreviations: continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), multiple daily injections (MDIs), number of respondents (n), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). A Statistically significant difference between the medians, T1DM vs. Healthy (the Mann–Whitney U test). Statistically significant difference between the medians: B CSII vs. MDIs, C MDIs vs. Healthy (the ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis test). Statistically significant dependence between variables: D T1DM vs. Healthy, E CSII vs. MDIs (the Chi-square test). F Results of the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test were collected from 79% of respondents. \* *p* < 0.01 and \*\* *p* < 0.001.

> There was a significant dependence (*p* < 0.01) of the frequency of physical activity between the main groups (T1DM vs. healthy). The frequency of physical activity did not affect the type of insulin therapy used—31% of the study group admitted that they did not engage in any physical activity, 38% (39% of CSII and 37% of MDIs users) exercised once or twice a week, 25% (22% and 27%, respectively) exercised three to four times a week, while 6% (7% and 5%, respectively) more than five times a week. Comparing these results to the control group, it was respectively: 15%, 37%, 35% and 13%.

Figure 1 shows the type of physical activity chosen by all the study participants. At that time, the most popular pursuits, in both the healthy and TD1DM groups, were walking (over 80% and 40%, respectively) and home gymnastics (62% in control vs. 35% in T1DM group, *p* < 0.001).

**Figure 1.** Type of physical activity chosen by study participants during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Abbreviations: continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), multiple daily injections (MDIs), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Statistically significant dependence between variables: A T1DM vs. Healthy, B CSI vs. MDIs (the Chi-square test), \* *p* < 0.05 and \*\* *p* < 0.001.

Most respondents devoted 5–8 h per day to sleep: 73% of healthy and 46% T1DM persons (a similar percentage was found in both groups on insulin therapy). Over 8 h of sleep was declared by 23% and 46%, respectively (Table 3).

Almost one-third of the respondents in both groups replied that they spent 2–4 h a day in front of a computer or TV. However, in most cases the declared screen time was 5–7 h a day (48% in control and 40% in T1DM group) (Table 3).

Also, there was a characteristic variation in the number of meals for the T1DM group (Table 3). Statistically significantly (*p* < 0.001), people from this group ate more frequently (41% and 54% ate more than five meals or three to four meals a day, while in the group of healthy people it was 20% and 66%, respectively).


**Table 3.** Frequency of selected healthy behaviors.

Values are expressed as percentage of respondents (%). Abbreviations: continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), multiple daily injections (MDIs), number of respondents (n), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Statistically significant dependence between variables: AT1DM vs. Healthy, B CSII vs. MDIs (the Chi-square test), \* *p* < 0.01 and \*\* *p* < 0.001.

> Figure 2 shows stress level percentage distribution in the study cohort during the second wave of COVID-19. The vast majority (44%) declared that they experienced medium stress. Slightly fewer (32% of healthy people and 23% of diabetics) said they still felt highly stressed.

**Figure 2.** Stress level distribution of study cohort during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Abbreviations: continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), multiple daily injections (MDIs), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Statistically significant (*p* < 0.001) dependence between T1DM and healthy (the Chi-square test).

> The respondents were asked whether they consumed a specific number of servings of a given product or group of products characteristic of the MD according to the MEDAS. Figure 3 presents the percentage of people who declared that they consumed this number of portions of a given food. Statistically significant differences between the responses in the main groups (healthy vs. T1DM) were observed for the servings of vegetables, olive oil, fruits, meat, butter/margarine/cream and fish/seafood consumed. There was also a

significant relationship between subgroups using different types of insulin therapy (CSII vs. MDIs) as regards the amount of wine consumed (Figure 3). The vast majority were moderately adherent to MEDAS—60% of healthy and 71% of diabetics (Figure 4).

**Figure 3.** Percentage of respondents consuming certain portion sizes of product groups characteristic of the Mediterranean diet. Values are expressed as percentage of respondents (%). Abbreviations: continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), multiple daily injections (MDIs), Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), Mediterranean Diet (MD), number of respondents (n), daily (d), weekly (w), portion (pr), tablespoon (tbsp), times (t), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Statistically significant dependence between variables: A T1DM vs. Healthy, B CSII vs. MDIs (the Chi-square test), \* *p* < 0.05, \*\* *p* < 0.01, \*\*\* *p* < 0.001. The size of portion: vegetables 200 g, sweet or beverages 200 mL, meat and fish 100–150 g, legumes 150 g, wine 125 mL, fruits 100 g, nuts 10 g, butter/margarine/cream 12 g.

**Figure 4.** Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in the study cohort. Abbreviations: continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), multiple daily injections (MDIs), Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

It was observed that diabetic women in the group with high adherence to MEDAS, compared to women with low adherence to MEDAS, more often slept for more than 8 h (50% vs. 40%), spent less time in front of a TV or computer (≥5 h of screen time: 49% vs. 87%) and consumed ≥5 meals a day (44% vs. 27%) (Table 4).

The above results (frequency of physical activity, number of meals, screen and sleep time and stress level) were divided into variables (place of residence, age group) and included in Supplementary Tables S1 and S2.



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Screener (MEDAS), number of respondents (*n*), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Category: low (score 0–5), medium (6–9 points), and high (≥10 points) Mediterranean Diet adherence.

#### *Nutrients* **2021**, *13*, 1173
