Effects of a “Food Is Medicine” Intervention on Glucose Control Among Medicaid-Insured Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Primary result · Change in HbA1c from baselineResult — go to the resultTreatment difference −0.40 points 95% CI −0.73 to −0.08Authors' conclusion
In this randomized trial among Medicaid-insured, racially/ethnically diverse patients with type 2 diabetes, MTG lowered HbA1c and improved food and nutrition security.
Study context
- Population
- Medicaid-insured adults with T2DM and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥7.5% (at least 2 measurements in the past year), southern California
- Participants
- 460 adults
- Comparison
- Medically tailored groceries vs usual care
- Usual-caren = 153reference
- Lower-dose medically tailored groceries (MTG)n = 153
- Higher-dose MTGn = 154
- Primary endpoint
- Change in HbA1c (combined MTG groups vs control)
- Follow-up
- 6 months
Methodological detailsrandomized 1:1:1, prespecified primary assessment: combined MTG groups vs control, 244 (83.3%) intervention participants reported eating most or all food provided; 63 (21.5%) engaged in telenutrition counseling
- Randomized 1:1:1
- Prespecified primary assessment: combined MTG groups vs control
- 244 (83.3%) intervention participants reported eating most or all food provided; 63 (21.5%) engaged in telenutrition counseling
Primary result
Change in HbA1c from baseline
Treatment difference
−0.40 points
95% CI −0.73 to −0.08
P = 0.016
Change by group
Intervention
0.66
decline · points
Control
0.25
decline · points
Intervention vs Control
treatment difference −0.40 points (95% CI −0.73 to −0.08); P = 0.016
As reported in the abstract
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Odds increase (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food security | 2.12 (1.13–3.99) | P = 0.020 | |
| Nutrition security | 3.65 (1.84–7.25) | P < 0.001 | |
| −50510Difference (linear scale) |
HbA1c, dose-response
- Higher-dose and lower-dose MTG produced similar reductions
Hypertension and BMI
- Did not significantly change
HbA1c, prespecified subgroups (sex, education, baseline food security, nutrition security, HbA1c)
- Results consistent across subgroups
Original publication
Effects of a “Food Is Medicine” Intervention on Glucose Control Among Medicaid-Insured Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Circulation. Published 21 July 2026. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it