Studies Show Food and Medication Interventions Improve Diabetes Management
Event summary
- Two studies published in the January/February 2026 issue of Annals of Family Medicine evaluate interventions to address financial barriers in diabetes management.
- A produce prescription program in Los Angeles County increased nutrition security by 15.5 percentage points and food security by 17.7 percentage points among Medicaid patients with diabetes or prediabetes.
- A randomized controlled trial in Israel found that pharmacy-redeemable vouchers reduced out-of-pocket medication costs and improved glycemic control by 1.4 percentage points in the intervention group compared to 0.7 percentage points in the control group.
The big picture
The studies highlight the critical role of addressing financial barriers in managing chronic conditions like diabetes. As healthcare systems increasingly focus on preventive care and holistic health management, interventions that improve nutrition security and medication affordability are likely to gain traction. The findings underscore the need for integrated approaches that combine medical treatment with social and economic support to achieve better health outcomes.
What we're watching
- Scalability
- Whether these interventions can be scaled to larger populations and different geographic regions.
- Sustainability
- The long-term sustainability of these programs given the financial and logistical challenges.
- Policy Impact
- How these findings may influence healthcare policies and funding for similar interventions.