On May 23, Cynthia Herrick, MD, MPHS and colleagues had their study titled “Food insecurity, SNAP participation and glycemic control in low-income adults with predominantly type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis using NHANES 2007–2018 data,” published by BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care.
Food insecurity is one social determinant of health (SDoH) known to affect both risk for diabetes and glycemic control. Authors were interested in whether the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which exists to reduce food insecurity for low-income individuals, would affect the relationship between food insecurity and glycemic control in a national sample.
In this cross-sectional analysis, they did not find a relationship between SNAP participation and the effect of food insecurity on glycemic control. However, findings highlight that access to health insurance and SDoH associated with race and ethnicity may be among the most critical predictors of glycemic control in this population. These findings have implications for community engaged interventions, healthcare and food policy.
Alawode O, Humble S, Herrick CJ. Food insecurity, SNAP participation and glycemic control in low-income adults with predominantly type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis using NHANES 2007–2018 data. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care 2023;11:e003205. doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2022-003205