A new study has shown that a simple program delivering healthy groceries and diabetes education to people’s homes can help improve their health.
The research took place in Northwest Arkansas and lasted for 12 weeks. During this time, adults with diabetes received special grocery boxes designed to support diabetes care, along with educational materials about managing the disease.
These materials were available in English, Spanish, and Marshallese, making it easier for people from different backgrounds to understand and use the information.
The program was created and run by researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), through their Institute for Community Health Innovation.
The team worked closely with community members to design the program in a way that would be useful and easy to access. By doing this, they hoped to reach people who might struggle with transportation or have trouble getting healthy food on a regular basis.
At the end of the 12 weeks, the results were very promising. Participants saw a meaningful drop in their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. This is a measure of blood sugar control over time, and lower numbers mean better management of diabetes.
On average, the participants’ A1c levels went down by 0.56 percentage points, which is enough to lower the risk of serious health problems related to diabetes.
Although the overall quality of participants’ diets did not change much, the researchers say that delivering both food and information directly to people’s homes was a big success. In fact, 97% of the people in the study received all the groceries and materials they were supposed to, showing that the program was well received and easy to follow.
Dr. Eliza Short, the lead author of the study and a nutrition researcher at UAMS, said that having regular access to healthy food is more than just helpful—it’s a critical part of healthcare for people with diabetes.
For people who don’t always have enough food or can’t get to the store easily, having healthy groceries delivered to their homes can make a real difference.
This study is part of a growing area of research known as “Food Is Medicine.” This idea connects food access directly with preventing and managing diseases. More and more researchers are looking at how providing healthy meals and nutrition education can help people manage chronic conditions like diabetes.
The researchers say that future studies should look at which part of the program—food delivery, nutrition education, or both—has the most effect on people’s health.
They also believe that future programs should keep adapting the food and materials to match different cultures and food traditions. This way, people from all backgrounds can benefit and feel more comfortable with the program.
In short, this study shows that giving people healthy food and useful health tips in their own language and in a way that fits their culture can lead to better diabetes control. It’s a reminder that small, thoughtful changes in how we deliver care can have a big impact.
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The study is published in Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
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