Produce Prescription – An Innovative ‘Food is Medicine’ Intervention to Improve Health Among People With Type 2 Diabetes 

While produce prescription programs have been established and increasingly growing in scale in the USA, it is unclear if produce prescription programs could be similarly acceptable, feasible, and effective in other healthcare systems and populations such as in Australia.  Therefore, we are conducting a randomized controlled trial that will determine the effect of a produce prescription intervention on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c, %) and other key clinical outcomes in participants with T2D and ongoing hyperglycemia who experience difficulties accessing and eating nutritious food in Australia.

This study will be a two-arm parallel trial with individuals randomized in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or continued usual care (control group). Healthy food boxes will be prescribed to the intervention group and delivered by an industry partner once a week for 6 months. The boxes will contain healthy produce with amounts scaled by the size of the household; and will be accompanied by recipe ideas and support for behavior change. Prior to trial commencement, we will conduct focus group consultations within the target communities to ensure the foods and recipes provided meet their expectations and cultural backgrounds.

Aim One

To co-design an implementation roadmap produce prescription intervention in an Australian urban setting through a participatory process.

Aim Two

To test whether a produce prescription consisting predominantly of fruit and vegetables among other nutritious food items, is an effective way of treating individuals with type 2 diabetes and reducing their risk of heart disease in the Australian setting.