CHARACTERIZING FOOD INSECURITY IN LOW INCOME WOMEN AT RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

Abstract

Populations who are food insecure are at risk for negative health outcomes, such as development of diabetes and other chronic diseases, as well as greater barriers to achieving optimal health. Therefore, a descriptive analysis was carried out to understand which characteristics were associated with food insecurity at baseline in a sample of low-income women at risk of type 2 diabetes. The analysis was conducted in the context of a diabetes prevention program carried out at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Tucson, Arizona. Participants included women with a history of gestational diabetes or prediabetes. Baseline measurements were collected by trained research staff. Forty-six percent (n=21) of participants were categorized as food insecure, through the use of the Hunger Vital Sign. The characteristics which were different among the two groups were waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, BMI and Health Insurance. The most significant differences were waist circumference and BMI, with greater values in the food insecure group. This analysis suggests that food insecurity may disproportionately affect those who are already at increased risk of the development of type two diabetes. Food insecurity may pose a great challenge to management of lifestyle and therefore make it harder to manage diabetes prevention.