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June 7, 2026Diabetes

Produce prescriptions linked to ~8% higher fruit and vegetable intake and improved food security in diabetes.

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Why the study?

Produce Prescription Programs aimed to improve diabetes care by promoting healthier diets, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving perceived health among patients with diabetes or prediabetes.

Do Produce Prescription Programs improve diet quality and food security in patients with diabetes or prediabetes?

Population

327 patients with diabetes or prediabetes who completed post surveys and received 10 or more produce boxes

Comparison

Produce prescription programs (pre vs post)

Design

Quantitative pre/post survey program evaluation

Follow-up

Average of six months

Key result

Produce Prescription Programs significantly increased fruit and vegetable intake from 2.72 to 2.94 cups per day (p<0.01) and improved food and nutrition security in patients with diabetes.

Authors

MLMisti J. LeyvaCDCARRIE DRAPERDFDongxu Fu

Discussion

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Overview

May support produce prescriptions for diet quality in diabetes; leaves open need for RCTs on clinical outcomes.

Key Points

  • To evaluate the impact of VeggieRx and GroceryRx programs on health outcomes among individuals with diabetes or prediabetes in South Carolina.
  • Quantitative pre/post survey design used for evaluation
  • 744 individuals completed baseline surveys and 327 completed follow-up after 6 months
  • Key outcomes included fruit and vegetable intake, food security, and self-reported health
  • Fruits and vegetables intake increased from 2.72 to 2.94 cups/day (p < 0.01)
  • Food insecurity scores decreased from 4.08 to 3.42 (p < 0.001)
  • Self-reported health rated 'good' improved from 34.5% to 47.5% (p < 0.001)

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=327)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Do Produce Prescription Programs improve diet quality and food security in patients with diabetes or prediabetes?

P
Population
327 predominantly female and Black patients with diabetes or prediabetes who participated in a Produce Prescription Program, followed for an average of six months.
E
Exposure
Produce Prescription Programs (GroceryRx and VeggieRx) providing 10 or more produce boxes over an average of six months.
O
Outcome
Fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, food security, nutrition security, and self-reported health at six months.patient reported

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 2.94% vs 2.72%

p-value: p=<0.01

Produce prescription programs significantly improve fruit and vegetable intake, food security, and self-reported health in patients with diabetes or prediabetes.

Cite This Study

Leyva et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Diabetes or prediabetes (n=327). Produce Prescription Programs (GroceryRx and VeggieRx) vs. Baseline (pre-intervention) was evaluated on Fruit and vegetable intake (cups per day) (p=<0.01). Produce Prescription Programs significantly increased fruit and vegetable intake from 2.72 to 2.94 cups per day (p<0.01) and improved food and nutrition security in patients with diabetes.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a250b4c7def13d035e1b515https://doi.org/10.2337/db26-2309-p
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