Findings seen among low-income individuals with diabetes and poor glycemic control<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) — A fresh produce prescription program can significantly improve hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among low-income patients with diabetes and poor glycemic control, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2023, held from Nov. 11 to 13 in Philadelphia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claudia Nau, Ph.D., from Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Pasadena, and colleagues assigned 450 eligible Kaiser Permanente Southern California patients (1:1:1) to a control group or a high- or low-dose intervention group (scaled to household size and ranging from $90 to $270 and $90 to $180, respectively). Adult participants were enrolled through Medicaid and had type 2 diabetes with at least two HbA1c values >7.5 percent in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that at baseline, HbA1c was 9.40 percent, body mass index was 34.1 kg\/m2<\/sup>, 74 percent had elevated blood pressure or hypertension (stage 1 or 2), and 58.3 percent were food-insecure. Compared with control, HbA1c at six months was significantly lower in the intervention groups (\u00e2\u0088\u00920.32 points). There was not a significant difference seen in reduction in HbA1c between the high- and low-dose interventions.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The availability and affordability of fresh foods and vegetables are key social determinants of health for people managing diet-related health conditions,” Nau said in a statement. “Providing healthy foods and dietary counseling can be an important complement to medical care.”<\/p>\n One author disclosed ties to the fresh produce industry.<\/p>\n Press Release<\/a><\/p>\n