Collaborative Healthy Eating Initiative Sees Substantial Improvement in Food Security and HbA1C Levels for Type 2 Diabetes Participants
The program, in effect from August 2023 to August 2024, connected food-insecure patients with Type 2 Diabetes to medically appropriate food assistance through a comprehensive network powered by Unite Us, which includes more than 650 providers in the Finger Lakes region.
'This program has demonstrated how critical it is to have strong partnerships between community-based organizations and the healthcare system. Partnerships like this benefit the participants, improve health outcomes, and keep dollars circulating within local communities,' said Dr. Mitch Gruber, chief impact officer at Foodlink.
Key findings from the program highlight its success in improving participants' health and overall well-being:
72% of participants increased their fruit and vegetable consumption
67% of participants reported improved food security
53% of participants reduced their stress levels
50% of participants improved their HbA1C
42% of participants increased the number of mental and physical healthy days per month
Participants experienced a statistically significant HbA1C reduction of, with the potential to reduce total annual healthcare costs by as much as 13% PMPY.
'Our goal is to ensure everyone has access to high-quality care regardless of their ability to pay. We know that our diet impacts our overall health. So, we were thrilled to serve as a partner for this pilot which we know resulted in such a significant improvement for many of our patients,' said Dr. Linda Clark, president and ceo of Jordan Health. 'Our hope is for pilots like this to develop into long-lasting and sustainable programs which help everyone with the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle as a direct result of the provided information and resources.'
Beyond improved health outcomes, participants also appreciated the program's holistic approach, which included regular deliveries of fresh produce, essential cookware, and helpful recipe cards. For one participant, the program's thoughtful design and practical resources made a meaningful impact on their life.
They said, 'Whoever thought of the program did a very good job. It was very convenient to know I was getting fresh fruits and vegetables every two weeks. The cookware—I really needed a lot of those things, so it helped out 100%. It was very good for my family. The recipe cards were extremely helpful. I enjoyed it.'
The Unite Us platform was instrumental in the program's success, simplifying access to vital community resources and fostering seamless collaboration across the network of community-based organizations (CBOs). Additionally, the use of Unite Us' social care revenue cycle management solution enabled timely reimbursements for CBOs, providing sustainable support for the program's goals.
'This program shows that we can tackle major public health challenges through partnership, technology, and innovation,' said Dr. Amanda Terry, senior director of research and evaluation at Unite Us. 'By addressing non-clinical needs, we not only improve individual outcomes but also create a replicable model that communities across the country can adopt.'
The program provided significant benefits across multiple stakeholder groups. For CBOs, it validated their impact on public health, strengthened their capacity to serve, and opened new funding streams. Government leaders saw how community-driven interventions improved health outcomes and received data to support evidence-based policy decisions. Healthcare providers were empowered to address social determinants of health, improving patient engagement and health outcomes. Payers gained valuable insights into the cost-saving potential of preventative care models, emphasizing the role of nutrition in reducing healthcare expenditures tied to chronic diseases.
All non-profit community-based organizations can use Unite Us' platform free of charge. Contact us to learn more: uniteus.com/contact/.
About Unite Us:
Unite Us is the nation's premier technology provider for integrating health and community-based care. Our advanced product suite is used to proactively coordinate services using data-driven insights, streamline referral and case management, and facilitate eligibility assessments and reimbursements across government, healthcare, health plans, and community organizations. The first of its kind, our closed-loop referral system prioritizes privacy and dignity and has integrated data and analytics tools used to measure impact, optimize programs, and shape policy. With over 1.7M services, we host the nation's largest network of community-based health and economic services dedicated to improving whole-person health. Learn more at UniteUs.com and LinkedIn.
About Jordan Health:
The Anthony L. Jordan Health Center began more than 100 years ago and was one of the first Federally Qualified Health Centers established in the nation. Located in neighborhoods where the most pressing need exists, our roots are steeped in service to underserved and uninsured residents, and building a safe, quality place for healthcare is our cornerstone. Learn more at JordanHealth.org.
Foodlink is a Rochester-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and building healthier communities by addressing both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity. We serve as the hub of the emergency food system across a 10-county service area. As a leading public health organization, Foodlink administers many programs and initiatives that aim to build the health and wealth of communities. Learn more at FoodlinkNY.org.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
27 minutes ago
- Medscape
Dapagliflozin Delivers Post-MI, Regardless of BMI and A1c
TOPLINE: Dapagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, reduced the incidence of new-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) following myocardial infarction (MI), regardless of baseline BMI or A1c levels, with a substantial reduction in heart failure symptoms seen in those with prediabetes and obesity. METHODOLOGY: Researchers performed a subanalysis of the DAPA-MI trial to assess whether cardiometabolic benefits of dapagliflozin after MI varied by baseline glycaemic status or BMI. They included patients who experienced acute MI within the last 7-10 days with impaired left ventricular systolic function and had no prior history of T2D or chronic heart failure. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either dapagliflozin (n = 1725; mean age, 62.9 years; 19% women) or placebo (n = 1700; mean age, 62.8 years; 20% women). In this subanalysis, patients were categorised as those having normal glycaemic levels (A1c levels < 5.7%) or having prediabetes (A1c levels, 5.7% to < 6.5%); BMI categories were < 25, 25 to < 30, and ≥ 30. Key outcomes included new-onset T2D and the occurrence of heart failure symptoms classified on the basis of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, assessed over a median follow-up duration of 11.6 months. TAKEAWAY: Patients who received dapagliflozin had a lower risk for new-onset T2D, irrespective of their baseline glycaemic status or BMI, than those who received placebo. Patients on dapagliflozin vs placebo showed a reduction in NYHA class III-IV symptoms, with a more pronounced effect seen in those with prediabetes than in those with normal A1c levels (P interaction = .009). Patients with both prediabetes and BMI ≥ 30 showed a 71% reduction in the occurrence of NYHA class III-IV symptoms with dapagliflozin (P = .005), corresponding to a 1-year absolute risk reduction of 10%. Dapagliflozin was similarly effective in achieving 5% or more weight loss across all A1c levels and BMI categories; rates of cardiovascular events were comparable between dapagliflozin and placebo groups. IN PRACTICE: "The findings of the present subanalyses support having a low threshold for commencing SGLT2 inhibition following acute MI in those with evidence of dysglycemia and/or obesity," the researchers wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Robert F. Storey, MD, DM, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England. It was published online on July 29, 2025, in the Journal of the American Heart Association. LIMITATIONS: The definition of the subgroups in a post hoc manner may have introduced bias. All assessments were performed only during active treatment; thus, glycometabolic effects after stopping medication remained uncertain. The follow-up period was relatively short, event rates were low, and CIs for hazard ratios were wide. DISCLOSURES: The DAPA-MI trial received funding from AstraZeneca. Several authors reported receiving research grants, personal fees, and consulting honoraria and having other financial ties with various institutes and pharmaceutical and healthcare companies including AstraZeneca. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
Can You Lower Your Risk for Dementia? - Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta - Podcast on CNN Podcasts
Dr. Sanjay Gupta 00:00:03 Welcome to Paging Dr. Gupta. Thank you so much for joining us. We are really trying to be your source for answers to whatever health questions you've been mulling over. Feel free to send those in to us. This is the show where we take those questions, really dig into the science and hopefully the stories behind them. Kyra's back with us. Who do we have first? Kyra Dahring 00:00:24 Hey Sanjay. So first up today, we've got a question from Alan in Ottawa, Canada, who wrote in asking if having type 2 diabetes accelerates cognitive decline if you're over the age of 70. Dr. Sanjay Gupta 00:00:40 Alan, I am really glad you asked about this, because so many people in both Canada and the United States have type 2 diabetes. In fact, around 11% of the general population lives with diabetes, and the numbers for those over the age of 65 jump up close to 30%. Keep that in mind when we give you the answer right after the break. Dr. Sanjay Gupta 00:01:06 'Alright, so does having type 2 diabetes affect cognitive decline in older adults? Well, the short answer, unfortunately, is yes. Studies find that diabetes can increase the odds of developing cognitive decline up to two times. A 2021 JAMA study following about 10,000 men and women found that those who had diabetes at age 70 had a higher likelihood of developing cognitive decline. So, you know, older adults with diabetes do have higher instances of dementia overall, Alzheimer's disease, and also something known as vascular dementia. And it has also been shown that the risk of cognitive decline in dementia is higher for those who develop diabetes at a younger age. So the earlier the age when you develop diabetes, the more likely you are to have cognitive decline again after age 70. Now, we don't know exactly why this is, but the connection appears to be pretty strong. So much so that some people have started calling Alzheimer's type 3 diabetes. Now that might be a bit hyperbolic, but I think there's no question that we know diabetes raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, which hurt heart and blood vessels, damaged blood vessels in the brain, could contribute to cognitive decline. We also know that the brain is dependent on many different chemicals, which can become imbalanced when insulin is not working as it should. Some of those changes could trigger cognitive decline, high blood sugar all by itself is pro-inflammatory that could damage brain cells and cause dementia to develop. But all this to say that there's clearly a connection between lifestyle and dementia. In fact, if you look at some of the latest studies, probably around 40% of dementia cases are preventable through lifestyle changes -- healthy balanced diet, physical activity, exercising your brain, social activity, and yes, keeping your blood sugar in check. There was another recent study called the Poynter Study, around 2,000 participants from across the United States, people who were between the ages of 60 and 79 and were cognitively healthy, okay, so they did not have problems, but they were leading sedentary lifestyles and had a higher risk of dementia due to health issues like pre-diabetes or borderline high blood pressure. And what they did in these two groups is one was given sort of a structured lifestyle intervention program, and the other was given guidance, but they were told to sort of do it on their own. All of it was geared towards healthy behaviors. Things like 30 minutes of cardio a day plus several days of weight training, a Mediterranean DASH diet, which is basically the Mediterranean diet with even more salt restrictions, certain brain training exercises, social activities, and health monitoring. Both groups that focused on these lifestyle changes did see an improvement in cognitive function. So that was really encouraging. There was other studies that have shown people who had even been given the diagnosis of cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease also saw an improvement. Not only were they able to slow or stall the progression of the disease, in some cases they were able to reverse it with lifestyle changes alone. So there's this connection between high blood sugar, diabetes and cognitive impairment. But I think the evidence is becoming increasingly clear that there's a lot that you can do about it. Hope that helps, Alan. I'll be back to answer another one of your questions right after the break. Dr. Sanjay Gupta 00:04:50 All right, all sorts of pagers going off. Kyra, who's next? Kyra Dahring 00:04:55 Okay, next up we've got Cal. Now, he's wondering, can learning a new language or even picking up a new instrument, can that actually help slow down cognitive decline? Or what kind of impact does that have? Dr. Sanjay Gupta 00:05:11 'So just as keeping your body active is important, and we know it's really important, not just for your physical health, but your brain health as well, we also know that learning a new language or learning to play an instrument can have a really significant beneficial impact on cognitive decline. I love this question. I love the topic. It is true that just moderate brisk activity, physical activity, is probably the most evidence-based way to improve your overall brain health. But when it comes to doing other things, learning new skills, taking on new hobbies, the key word here is new. A lot of people focus on things like crossword puzzles, which can be really helpful for overall brain-health, but mostly what crossword-puzzles do is make you really good at crossword puzzles. What you want to do is something new! Learning a new language is kind of like a form of developing cognitive reserve, like a demanding career of some sort that's going to strengthen and organize your brain circuits, helping to fight off the initial symptoms of dementia until later in life. I really loved this one study when it came to instruments. There was a study of twins where one twin had developed dementia, the other didn't. And what they found after controlling for education and physical activity, that playing a musical instrument was significantly associated with lower likelihood of dementia and cognitive impairment. So, you know, genetically identical individuals, the only big difference was that one played an instrument. Taking that a step further, there was a study that found professional musicians who began training before age seven actually had reliably thicker areas of certain parts of the brain, such as the anterior corpus callosum, which is the very front of the brain that sort of connects the two hemispheres. Even learning an instrument later in life, was associated with improved attention, improved thinking skills, and overall better mental health. Dr. Sanjay Gupta 00:07:18 'So, Shukriya, merci, gracias for your question. Thank you very much. That's all the time we have for today. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. I'm inspired by your curiosity. I love reading these questions, I love hearing your stories and I love your voices. That is what makes this show so special. So keep the questions coming. If there's something health related you've been wondering about send it to us, we might try and answer it next week! Record a voice memo email it to AskSanjay@ or give us a call, 470-396-0832, and leave a message. Thanks so much for listening. I'll be back next Tuesday.
Medscape
a day ago
- Medscape
Add-On Lobeglitazone Boosts Glycemic Control in T2D
TOPLINE: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who responded inadequately to sitagliptin plus metformin experienced improvements in glycemic control and insulin sensitivity after lobeglitazone was added to their regimen. METHODOLOGY: Metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors such as sitagliptin are widely used for glycemic control in patients with T2D; however, the choice of which agent to add when these therapies fail to achieve target blood glucose levels remains unclear. Researchers in Korea conducted a phase 3 trial from April 2018 to December 2021 to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding lobeglitazone to the dual therapy regimen of metformin (≥ 1000 mg/d) and sitagliptin (100 mg/d). The study included 231 patients with T2D (mean age, 58.65 years; 56.52% men) whose A1c ranged from 7.0% to 10.0% despite receiving the dual therapy. After a 2-week run-in period, patients were randomly assigned to receive either a 0.5 mg/d dose of lobeglitazone (n = 116) or placebo (n = 115) alongside metformin and sitagliptin for 24 weeks, followed by a 28-week open-label phase in which all patients received lobeglitazone. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in mean A1c at 24 weeks. Secondary endpoints included changes in additional glycemic and lipid parameters and safety outcomes. TAKEAWAY: At week 24, mean A1c levels were 1.03% lower in patients who received lobeglitazone vs placebo (95% CI, -1.23% to -0.82%), with the reduction being maintained until 52 weeks; those who switched from placebo to lobeglitazone at week 24 also saw a reduction in A1c levels by week 52. Additionally, at week 24, a higher proportion of patients receiving lobeglitazone vs placebo achieved A1c levels < 6.5% (27.14% vs 0.87%) and < 7% (53.04% vs 13.04%; both P < .0001). The addition of lobeglitazone to dual therapy significantly improved insulin sensitivity markers compared with placebo at week 24, with effects sustained till week 52; additionally, administration of lobeglitazone reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The incidence of adverse events was not significantly different between the two groups; the incidence of edema and weight gain in some patients receiving lobeglitazone aligned with the known effects of thiazolidinediones. IN PRACTICE: 'The observed improvements in various glucose-related metabolic factors and lipid metabolism indicators with lobeglitazone coadministration may provide valuable evidence for long-term blood glucose management and cardiovascular risk reduction,' the authors of the study wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Eun-Gyoung Hong, MD, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hwaseong, South Korea. It was published online in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. LIMITATIONS: A longer follow-up might be needed to fully evaluate the sustained effects of the study outcomes and potential side effects. DISCLOSURES: This study received funding from Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Company. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
