Adherence
Food insecurity in diabetic patients significantly increases the risk of hypoglycemia and poor glycemic control (higher A1c) due to the trade-off between purchasing food and purchasing diabetes medications/supplies.
If you have diabetes and struggle to afford food, do not simply 'try harder' to follow your diet. The cost of food often forces you to skip medications, causing dangerous blood sugar swings. Talk to your doctor about switching to medications with a lower risk of hypoglycemia (like Metformin or DPP-4 inhibitors) or adjusting your insulin regimen to be more flexible, so you don't have to choose between eating and staying safe.
Ultimately, the choice between food and medication predisposes individuals either to hypoglycemia (if medications are taken instead of food) or hyperglycemia (if food is eaten instead of medications taken)... Food-insecure diabetics have marginally higher A1c levels than food-secure diabetics... and are at increased risk for poorer glycemic control (A1c levels higher than 7%)
Why this rating
Based on multiple observational studies (NHANES, longitudinal surveys) cited in the review, though causality is complex.
Source
The Intersection between Food Insecurity and Diabetes: A Review
Enza Gucciardi et al. · Current Nutrition Reports · 2014
DOI 10.1007/s13668-014-0104-4
More from this paper
- Food insecurity is an independent risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes, with food-insecure adults being 2-3 times more likely to have diabetes than food-secure adults.Good
- Targeted diabetes self-management education improves glycemic control (A1c) and self-efficacy in food-insecure individuals, often more significantly than in food-secure individuals.Moderate
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →