Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2025
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Impact of a Prescription Produce Program on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Outcomes
Susan Veldheer1, Christina Scartozzi2, Candace R Bordner3
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of a fruit and vegetable prescription program on diabetes and cardiovascular risk outcomes.
Design:
Single-arm pre-post study.
Setting:
Primary care clinic in a community-based hospital.
Participants:
Adults with type 2 diabetes (n = 97), aged > 18 years, with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥ 7.0%, and a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 25 kg/m2.
Intervention:
Over 7 months, participants received monthly group-based diabetes self-management education (DSME) and monthly vouchers ($28-$140/month) redeemable for fruits and vegetables at local markets.
Analysis:
Biomarker changes (HbA1c, BMI, and blood pressure) were assessed with paired t tests. Voucher distribution and redemption were tracked, and voucher redemption rates were calculated. Linear mixed-effect regression models tested associations between biomarkers, voucher redemption rates, and participant characteristics.
Results:
There was a -1.3% (P < 0.001) postprogram change in HbA1c. Reduced HbA1c was associated with higher voucher redemption rates (P = 0.032) and a change in diabetes medications (P = 0.003). There were no associations with BMI, but blood pressure was positively associated with voucher redemption.
Conclusions And Implications:
Fruit and vegetable prescription programs may improve diabetes outcomes by incentivizing DSME uptake and retention. Future randomized trials are warranted to identify strategies to improve DSME engagement and voucher redemption rates and assess mechanisms through which these programs influence health outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management
01:15Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
01:27Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...