Food insecurity and medication restricting behavior among persons with diabetes in the United States

Medication restricting behaviours are common among persons with diabetes increasing risk for poor health outcomes. Persons with diabetes are more likely to experience food insecurity than persons without diabetes.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between food insecurity and medication restricting behaviour among persons with diabetes in the United States.

Data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data conducted in the United States was used for this analysis. Medication restricting behaviour was assessed by questions asking whether four restricting behaviours were present (skipped medication, took less medication, delayed filling a prescription and/or took less medication due to cost). Food insecurity status was obtained through a 10-item scale and participants were categorized as either food secure, low food security, or very low food security. Poisson regression evaluated the relationship between medication restricting behaviour and food insecurity controlling for confounders.

Participants with very low food security had a significantly higher mean number of medication restricting behaviours than participants who were food secure (adjusted mean ratio (AMR) = 4.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (3.09, 5.21)). Similarly, participants with low food security had a significantly higher mean ratio than participants who were food secure (AMR = 3.76; 95% CI = (2.86. 4.94).

Persons with diabetes who have low or very low food security are at an increased risk for engaging in medication restricting behaviours.