Exploring the Influence of Dietary Interventions on Human Health, Disease, and Behavior (Oral Session 8)

(OR08-03-25) Veggie Rx: A Fresh Produce Prescription Program to Improve Health Outcomes in Diabetes and Prediabetes in South Carolina

Sunday, June 1, 2025

2:24 PM – 2:36 PM ET

Location: S220 B-D

Presenting Author(s)

ML

Misti J. Leyva, PhD, RD, LD

Project Strategist
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

CD

Carrie Draper

Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
DF

Dongxu Fu

BlueCross BlueShield SC (Diabetes Free SC), United States
KH

Kimberley Hollins

University of South Carolina, United States
TL

Timothy J. Lyons, MD

BlueCross BlueShield SC (Diabetes Free SC), United States
NO

Noreen O'Donnell

BlueCross BlueShield SC (Diabetes Free SC), United States
OR

Omme-Salma Rahemtullah

University of South Carolina, United States
GS

Gordon Schell

University of South Carolina, United States
MT

Michelle Troup

University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, United States
BW

Beverly Wilson

University of South Carolina, United States

Objectives: Diabetes and prediabetes are prevalent in South Carolina and disproportionately affect African Americans. Lack of access to healthy food impedes control of diabetes, blood pressure and weight. VeggieRx, a fruit/vegetable prescription program, aims to increase fresh produce intake to reduce A1C, blood pressure, and weight, to mitigate food insecurity and to lower healthcare costs.

Methods: VeggieRx enrolls patients aged 18 years or older with pre-diabetes or diabetes, providing a free FoodShare Fresh Food Box of healthy fruits and vegetables every two weeks, for a total of 13 boxes over six months. We enrolled 339 patients: 67% had diabetes (A1C >6.5%) and 33% prediabetes (A1C 5.7–6.5%); 45% were Black, 22% White, 22% Hispanic and 11% unknown race: most (73%) were aged 40–64 years; 64% were obese, 28% overweight; 34% had Stage 1 hypertension, 35% Stage 2, and 3% were in ‘hypertensive crisis’. Key outcomes (HbA1c, systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], weight and body mass index [BMI]) were measured at baseline and six months. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, with p< 0.05 considered significant.

Results: At six months, A1C decreased from 8.3 to 7.6% (p=0.0004) (significant in Black: 8.9 to 8.1%, p=0.0004; White: 8.4 to 7.8%, p=0.005; and Hispanic: 7.6 to 7.1%, p=0.012). SBP decreased from 134.8 to 132.4 mmHg (p=0.014) (not significant [ns] in Black or White patients; but significant in Hispanics: 133 to 128.2 mmHg, p=0.019). DBP decreased from 81.9 to 80.1 mmHg (p=0.001) (significant in Black: 83.3 to 80.9 mmHg, p=0.004; White: 81.2 to 78.9 mmHg, p=0.034; but not Hispanic). Weight decreased by 1.9 lbs (203.6 to 201.7 lbs, p=0.007) (ns in Black and White; Hispanic lost 2.8 lbs (p=0.026)). BMI decreased from 33.9 to 33.6 kg/m² (p=0.006) (ns in Black and White; in Hispanic reduced by 0.5 kg/m², p=0.024).

Conclusions: VeggieRx was associated with significant improvements in A1C, blood pressure, and weight. It holds promise to reduce food insecurity, health disparities and the burden of diet-related diseases in South Carolina.

Funding Sources: Funded by the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation to support the goals of Diabetes Free SC.