Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Health System introduced a program that offers food insecure, diabetic patients prescriptions for free foods aimed at keeping their disease under control.
The Degenstein Foundation and Weis Markets stock the Fresh Food Pharmacy with fruits, vegetables and whole grains consistent with American Diabetes Association guidelines for diabetic patients.
"When you're on a tight budget, you'll eat whatever food is filling and cheap. Unfortunately, that food tends to provide a nutritional void," Andrea Feinberg, MD, a program advocate and an internal medicine physician specializing in pulmonary and critical care, said in a statement. "We're tying to close the food gap when it comes to social inequity."
Currently the program is available to patients in Shamokin, Pa.