The association between food prices and the blood Glucose Level of US adults with Type 2 diabetes

T.D. Anekwe and I. Rahkovsky

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 4, 678-685

Abstract: Objectives. We estimated the association between the price of healthy and less-healthy food groups and blood sugar among US adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods. We linked 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey health information to food prices contained in the Quarterly Food-at- Home Price Database. We regressed blood sugar levels on food prices from the previous calendar quarter, controlling for market region and a range of other covariates. We also examined whether the association between food prices and blood sugar varies among different income groups. Results. The prices of produce and low-fat dairy foods were associated with blood sugar levels of people with type 2 diabetes. Specifically, higher prices for produce and low-fat dairy foods were associated with higher levels of glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose 3 months later. Food prices had a greater association with blood sugar for low-income people than for higherincome people, and in the expected direction. Conclusions. Higher prices of healthy foods were associated with increased blood sugar among people with type 2 diabetes. The association was especially pronounced among low-income people with type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: article; blood; commercial phenomena; economics; fat intake; female; food; glucose blood level; human; income; male; middle aged; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; nutrition; statistics; United States, Blood Glucose; Commerce; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Dietary Fats; Female; Food; Humans; Income; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301661_7

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301661

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