Food Insecurity and Diabetes: The Role of Federally Qualified Health Centers as Pillars of Community Health

Abstract

Food insecurity is a complex public health problem affecting millions of people globally. It leads to negative health outcomes in the afflicted population and the society at large. There is a self-perpetuating vicious cycle between food insecurity and chronic health conditions like diabetes. It is important for healthcare professionals to be aware of its existence, to be able to recognize it, and to work with their patients to find solutions for it. Simultaneously, the providers should advocate for their patients and make program administrators, policymakers, and legislatures aware of this crisis. During the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, when economies have been badly affected and many people have lost their jobs, this subject has arguably assumed much greater importance. In this article, we discuss the magnitude of the problem, its relation to diabetes mellitus, and the role that a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) can play in mitigating this problem. Categories: Family/General Practice Keywords: food insecurity, food insecurity and diabetes, federal nutrition programs, role of federally qualified health centers, cycle of food insecurity and health, hunger, food insecurity and chronic disease, food assistance, feeding america, southern illinois university center for family medicine Open Access Review Article

Self-management challenges of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ekurhuleni district primary health care facilities amid COVID-19 lockdown

“…A study conducted in the United States of America on food insecurity and DM concurred with the challenge of job losses, which are associated with worry of not having adequate money to buy healthy food. 36 A study conducted on psychological, social and financial impacts of COVID-19 on culturally and linguistically diverse communities, concluded that changes in financial status, resulted in reduction in meeting family expenses for better living. 37 Whilst these findings reiterate the pervasive financial burden for patients with T2DM to maintain healthy eating habits as self-management, financial burden has serious implications on economy and food security for South African citizens at large.…”

Eating Problems in Youths with Type 1 Diabetes During and After Lockdown in Italy: An 8-Month Follow-Up Study

“…Specifically, according to a recent Italian study, FI risk was found to be particularly high in lower-income households living in Southern Italy (Dondi et al, 2021 ). Given that FI has been described as associated with eating disorders (Hazzard et al, 2020 ) as well as with adverse physical outcomes that may further complicate diabetes management (Daly et al, 2021 ), worries about food access should be also assessed in future studies, in order to more fully understand its possible contribution to eating problems and DEBs, especially in vulnerable people such as those suffering from T1D.…”

Disparities in Food Security and Glycemic Control Among People with Type 2 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The higher prevalence of T2D and food insecurity among underrepresented groups tracks with the higher prevalence of poor glycemic control and diabetes complications in these groups compared to Whites [13]. Food insecurity can lead to poor glycemic control and increased health care utilization, resulting in less disposable income that reinforces this cycle, suggesting that targeted efforts to prevent food insecurity are important in T2D [14].…”

“…It has been established that convenience samples underestimate food insecurity prevalence compared to targeted sampling of high-risk groups [17]. Participants recruited from clinics may have better glycemic control due to consistent access to health care [14]. The exclusion of individuals with severe FI and suboptimal gly- cemic control from the non-White stratum may explain the small and non-statistically significant associations.…”