New research has found that Abbott’s Healthy Food Rx “food is medicine” programme enhanced the diet quality and health status of people living with diabetes.
Presented at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) recent Scientific Session, the results of the randomised, controlled clinical trial assessed the impact of the programme in a food-insecure, low-income setting.
The Healthy Food Rx programme provides participants with home-delivered healthy food boxes, while providing participants with nutrition education to help address diabetes.
During the six month study period, 364 people with diabetes were enrolled onto the Food Rx programme, with participants experiencing:
- A significant improvement to diet quality: Volunteers ate more fruit and vegetables compared with the control group
- Better self-reported health: Those enrolled under the Healthy Food Rx regimen self-reported improvements to their physical health compared with the control group
- Lowered A1C levels: Average glucose levels dropped during the study period by 0.7% in the study group. A lower A1C value is associated with improved health outcomes for people with diabetes.
During the study period, 98% claimed to be satisfied with the programme, while 99% were likely to recommend the programme to others.
“Living with diabetes in an economically underserved community can present numerous challenges, from limited access to affordable, healthy foods to a lack of appropriate health services,” said Erika Takada, Executive Director, Public Health Institute Center for Wellness and Nutrition.
“Even with a programme that reaches participants just twice a month, we are seeing benefits in people with diabetes eating better foods and feeling healthier. This underscores the foundational role that good nutrition can play in helping to address the impact of diabetes and other chronic diseases on our families and communities.”
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