Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. with diabetes not too far behind. These two diseases often go hand in hand, with diabetes, as well as an unhealthy diet, being top contributing factors in heart disease. While maybe isn’t officially classified as one, heart disease is an epidemic with one person dying of cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds. In 2020 alone, about 697,000 people in the U.S. died from heart disease which is one in every five deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics). As people with diabetes are also more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and higher cholesterol, both conditions are vital to managing and/or even reducing poor health outcomes.

It is known that race and ethnicity are both social and cultural constructs and that health disparities are affected by these structures. They can be linked to the marginalization people of color have historically experienced. Many, if not most, of these experiences have caused a mistrust of the health care profession for people of color which means they are less likely to seek medical care and manage their conditions. While low-income people are less likely to afford, receive, or seek out better medical care, Black and Indigenous people, who are often live more in poverty, are even less likely to get the care they need for better health outcomes and a longer life. This is oftentimes due to them feeling overlooked, ignored, or not trusted when it comes to their medical experiences. So, when people don’t opt for proper medical care to handle their health, it is even more critical that they take care of themselves through quality nutrition and eating healthier, which is often expensive and out of reach for these populations.

With our Front Door Fresh Meal Delivery program, our vision is to bring quality, healthy, fresh foods to the communities of Pierce County so they get the nutrition they need for better health outcomes, especially as it relates to heart disease and diabetes. But beyond just delivering the fresh food to their homes for free, this program is geared to putting together heart-healthy, diabetes-friendly (lower-carb, lower-sugar), as well as culturally appropriate food boxes that include ingredients for full meals along with a recipe for each meal. Ingredients will include fresh local produce, lean meats, and other items. Our partner WSU Pierce Extension Snap-Ed created and tested the recipes to ensure they are appropriate for these special diets, they are easy to recreate for clients, and are something that clients will love to eat. Our ultimate goal is to help lower-income BIPOC households achieve better health, have better management over any conditions they already have, or ward off the potential for these diseases.

We empathize that everyone with diabetes is on different paths in their journeys when it comes to managing their health. In commitment to service, we have compiled a list of resources below to help each and every one.

Virtual cooking lessons

Need some cooking lessons for diabetic-friendly meals? Don’t want to leave the comfort of your home but still want to learn and ask questions? Learn about joining a live cooking class at American Diabetes Association HERE

Reading food labels

Reading food labels can be complicated, but understanding it is necessary to maintain a sustainable diet for wellbeing.

In addition to understanding the food labels, there are definitions that can be confusing, and at times, misleading. Below are key terms  you will often see on some food packages.

Calories

Calories free: less than 5 calories per serving

Low calorie: 40 calories or less per serving

Total, saturated, and trans fat

Fat free: less than 0.5 grams of fat

Saturated fat free: less than 0.5 grams of saturated fat

Trans fat free:  less than 0.5 grams of trans fat

Low fat: 3 grams or less of total fat

Low saturated fat: 1 gram or less of saturated fat

Reduced fat or less fat: at least 25% less fat than the regular version

Sodium

Sodium free or salt free: less than 5 mg of sodium per serving

Very low sodium: 35 mg of sodium or less

Low sodium: 140 mg of sodium or less

Reduced sodium or less sodium: at least 25% less sodium than the regular version

Cholesterol

Cholesterol free: less than 2 mg per serving

Low cholesterol: 20 mg or less

Reduced cholesterol or less cholesterol: at least 25% less cholesterol than the regular version

Sugar

Sugar free: less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving

Reduced sugar: at least 25% less sugar per serving than the regular version

No sugar added or without added sugars: no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient is added during processing

Fiber

High fiber: 5 grams or more of fiber per serving

Good source of fiber: 2.5 to 4.9 grams of fiber per serving

Insulin affordability

Maintaining your blood sugar at a healthy level and taking precautions so it doesn’t spike shouldn’t come at the expense of your medical bills spiking.

Washington state has mandated insurance companies to cap insulin copay at $35 for a 30-day supply.

Federal health insurance program Medicare provides those who are 65 or older some insulin-covered benefits. More information can be found HERE

Another federal program is Medicaid which is funded jointly with state. That program provides health insurance to low income individuals and families. Each state has their own regulation on the structure of the program, including insulin benefits. More information for Washington state residents can be found HERE.

For those who are uninsured and are unable to receive medical insurance at all, there are certain insulin manufacturers that can provide insulin free of charge through their assistance programs.

Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi are three companies that provide assistance. More information on them can be found HERE