Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Spring 2021 - 8

Professional News

The Pfizer Foundation, American Diabetes Association Team
Up to Bring Healthy Food and Diabetes Support to Underserved
Alabama Community
In Montgomery, AL, a predominantly low-income,
Black/African American community, nearly 21%
of residents have an income below the poverty
level. Many have limited access to healthy food
options, particularly in rural areas. The uneven
distribution of supermarkets in Alabama leaves
a disproportionate number of lower-income
families without access to nutritious foods. Not
surprisingly, Alabama is plagued by high rates of
diabetes (13.2%) and obesity (40.8%).

The ADA community-impact program
strives to reduce food insecurity
and combat diabetes by providing
affordable foods to a low-income,
low-access community.
-Dr. Robert Gabbay, ADA's
Chief Scientific & Medical Officer
Recently, The Pfizer Foundation awarded the
American Diabetes Association (ADA) a Social
Determinants of Health (SDOH) grant to address
food insecurity and high rates of diabetes in
communities in Montgomery. The two organizations
are teaming up in this community-impact program
as part of ADA's Health Equity Now national platform
to ensure that all people living with diabetes, and
the millions of underserved Americans who are at
greatest risk for diabetes, have equal access to the
resources they need not just to survive, but to thrive.
The ADA will work with local community
organizations, including the Communities
Improvement Association, Inc., to develop a 10-acre
community garden to provide increased access to
seasonal fruits and vegetables to more than 1,000
residents of Montgomery County. Disabled veterans
will assist in harvesting the seasonal produce from
the community garden. In addition, the ADA and
local partners, including Living Well Associates,
Inc., Alabama State University, Tuskegee University
Dietetics, and Auburn University Cooperative
8

DiabetesPro Quarterly | SPRING 2021

Extension will deliver the ADA-approved diabetes
support program " Diabetes Education Empowerment
Program " and other resources to the community to
provide health education to individuals with or at risk
for type 2 diabetes.
" The ADA community-impact program strives to
reduce food insecurity and combat diabetes by
providing affordable foods to a low-income, lowaccess community, " said Dr. Robert Gabbay, ADA's
Chief Scientific & Medical Officer. " While we are
targeting those with diabetes who are experiencing
food insecurity, our program will impact all of
Montgomery by increasing their access to healthy
foods and initiating environmental changes that
address social determinants of health. "
The Pfizer Foundation grant will help to support
the program's coalition of key representatives of
major sectors in Montgomery County, including
local community partners, farmers, faith-based
organizations, and the county commissioner, who will
serve to guide the project and ensure its sustainability
in addressing food insecurity and diabetes support in
the community. This program is an essential means
of addressing SDOH as a part of diabetes care and
creating clinical and community linkages.

ADA Launches Eye Health
Facebook Page
Do you and your patients know about
the American Diabetes Association's new
Facebook group for people with diabetes to
discuss eye health-related questions? When
you join, you'll be able to interact with others
in the diabetes community, ask questions
about diabetes and eye health, and access
helpful resources. Join us today.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/montgomerycityalabama/PST045219 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/montgomerycityalabama/PST045219 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/montgomerycityalabama/PST045219 http://www.thefoodtrust.org/uploads/media_items/al-reportfinalweb.original.pdf http://www.thefoodtrust.org/uploads/media_items/al-reportfinalweb.original.pdf https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/diabetes/DiabetesAtlas.html https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/diabetes/DiabetesAtlas.html https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html#states https://www.diabetes.org/healthequitynow https://www.facebook.com/groups/660493001405846

Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Spring 2021