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Food Insecurity and Diabetes in Developed Societies

  • Obesity (J McCaffery, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Food insecurity is an important issue in public health even in developed societies, particularly for vulnerable populations. Food insecurity refers to the uncertain or limited access to adequate and safe foods. Emerging evidence shows an association between food insecurity, type 2 diabetes risk factors, and management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A review of the current literature describing the association between food insecurity and diabetes reveals possible mechanisms and pathophysiologic pathways. There is less evidence for effective interventions, and much of the current literature is limited to cross-sectional studies. Future work should evaluate longitudinal associations and ways to help vulnerable patients with diabetes access adequate food for effective diabetes management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Utibe R. Essien

  2. Harvard Medical School, 50 Staniford St, 9th Floor, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Utibe R. Essien & Seth A. Berkowitz

  3. Division of General Internal Medicine and Diabetes Population Health Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Naysha N. Shahid & Seth A. Berkowitz

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  1. Utibe R. Essien
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Correspondence to Seth A. Berkowitz.

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Utibe Essien, Naysha Shahid, and Seth A. Berkowitz declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Essien, U.R., Shahid, N.N. & Berkowitz, S.A. Food Insecurity and Diabetes in Developed Societies. Curr Diab Rep 16, 79 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-016-0774-y

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