Home-Delivered Groceries Improve Blood Sugar Control for People with Diabetes Facing Food Insecurity

A new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), published by Elsevier, evaluated a 12-week home-delivered food and education program among adults in Northwest Arkansas. Participants received diabetes-appropriate grocery boxes along with diabetes self-management education materials in English, Spanish, or Marshallese. The intervention was designed and implemented by researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation (ICHI) using a community-engaged approach.

After the program, participants’ average hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a key marker of blood sugar control, decreased by 0.56 percentage points, a clinically meaningful improvement that lowers the risk of diabetes-related complications. While diet quality did not show significant change, researchers note that providing culturally relevant, in-language educational materials and removing transportation barriers ensured that 97% of participants received the full intended intervention dose.

“This study demonstrates the potential for home-delivered, medically tailored groceries to make measurable improvements in diabetes management for people experiencing food insecurity and facing transportation barriers,” said lead author Eliza Short, PhD, RDN, Research Scientist, Center for Nutrition & Health Impact and Research Collaborator with UAMS ICHI. “For many people with type 2 diabetes, reliable access to healthy food is not just a convenience—it’s essential healthcare.”

The findings contribute to the growing field of Food Is Medicine (FIM) interventions, which connect nutrition access directly to chronic disease prevention and management. The authors emphasize that future research should explore which elements of such programs—food delivery, nutrition education, or both—most influence health outcomes. They also encourage tailoring food and education materials to reflect cultural food preferences across diverse communities to improve engagement and impact.

To access the Diabetes Self-management Education and Support curriculum developed in this study, please visit: https://communityhealth.uams.edu/strategic-areas/diabetes-and-cardiometabolic-diseases.

The article is "Medically Tailored Grocery Delivery for Food Pantry Clients with Diabetes" by Eliza Short, PhD, RDN; Ji Li, MS; James P. Selig, PhD; Kelsey Bounds, BS; Brett Rowland, MA; Bonnie Faitak, MA; Jazmin Lane; Rosana Solis-Garcia; Holly C. Felix, PhD, MPA; Krista Langston, MBA; Pearl A. McElfish, PhD, MBA; Juan Mejia-Otera, MD; Lauren Haggard-Duff, PhD, RN; Christopher R. Long, PhD (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2025.08.006). It appears in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, volume 57, issue 12 (December 2025), published by Elsevier.

The article is openly available at https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(25)00421-X/fulltext.

An audio podcast featuring an interview with Eliza Short, PhD, RDN, and other information for journalists are available at https://www.jneb.org/content/media. Excerpts from the podcast may be reproduced by the media with permission from Eileen Leahy.

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), the official journal of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), is a refereed, scientific periodical that serves as a resource for all professionals with an interest in nutrition education and dietary/physical activity behaviors. The purpose of JNEB is to document and disseminate original research, emerging issues, and practices relevant to nutrition education and behavior worldwide and to promote healthy, sustainable food choices. It supports the society’s efforts to disseminate innovative nutrition education strategies and communicate information on food, nutrition, and health issues to students, professionals, policy makers, targeted audiences, and the public.

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior features articles that provide new insights and useful findings related to nutrition education research, practice, and policy. The content areas of JNEB reflect the diverse interests of health, nutrition, education, Cooperative Extension, and other professionals working in areas related to nutrition education and behavior. As the Society’s official journal, JNEB also includes occasional policy statements, issue perspectives, and member communications. www.jneb.org

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