Do Food Prices Affect Diabetics?

In a new study researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) say that food prices are linked to blood sugar levels in those with Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers combined information from two large studies. In the first study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), they gathered blood sugar measurements from 2,400 adults who met the criteria for Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers then compared these blood sugar levels to average grocery prices over the previous three months from 35 markets around the United States. The prices came from the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database.

After looking at both studies researchers found that as the prices of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products rose, so did blood sugar levels. Concurrently, as the prices for sugar, saturated fat, and total calories fell, blood sugar rose in those with diabetes. This relationship was the strongest among low-income customers.

"Most likely it's because people eat less produce and switch to products that are less healthy," said study author Ilya Rahkovsky, an economist with the USDA's Economic Research Service in Washington, DC.

The study was published in one of the February online issues of the American Journal of Public Health.

A study published last December by the Harvard School of Public Health says that healthy eating costs the average person about $1.50 more per day, compared unhealthy eating.

This may not be a financial stretch for middle-class families, but for low-income families, that price hike is likely cost-prohibitive. Instead of eating fruits, vegetables, and low-protein meats, families will instead purchase more processed and junk foods, which are usually higher in fat, sugars, and calories.

For every 10 cents per pound in the cost of produce, fasting blood sugar climbed 20 milligrams per deciliter, or about 13 percent of the average fasting glucose level, which was 162 mg/dL.

For every 14 cent increase in a pound of low-fat dairy, there was a 9 mg/dL decrease in fasting blood sugar, about 6 percent of the average level.

The study proved a relationship between food prices and blood sugar levels in those with Type 2 diabetes, but it did not prove a cause-and-effect link.

"Healthy foods are more expensive, and being forced to purchase unhealthy foods, maybe for economic reasons, does have health consequences," said Adam Drewnowski, director of the nutritional sciences program at the University of Washintgon in Seattle. He was not involved in the published study.

"Instead of merely advising people to consume expensive foods for better health, we ought to pay more attention to prices," he said.

Reference: Healthday

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Dr. Craig M. Kaufman

Connecticut Foot Care Centers

Podiatrist in Berlin, Newington, and Middletown, CT

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