Experiences of people with diabetes receiving a voucher for healthy foods: a qualitative study

Food insecurity is linked to lower consumption of healthy foods in people with diabetes. Food prescription programs may improve diabetes outcomes and promote fruit and vegetable intake among people with diabetes. We conducted a qualitative study to understand the experiences of people with diabetes or prediabetes facing food insecurity who were receiving a monthly food voucher as part of a clinical trial. For this qualitative study, we purposefully selected a subset of participants in a clinical trial who were randomized to receive a monthly $65 Canadian voucher for healthy foods for six months. Participants were adult primary care patients with diabetes or prediabetes who also reported food insecurity or trouble making ends meet. We conducted semi-structured interviews and analysed interview transcriptions using an inductive approach to derive themes. We interviewed 20 participants. Many participants reported an awareness of how to eat in accordance with diabetes-management and the vouchers provided participants the freedom able to eat in such a way, allowing them to purchase healthier foods without having to worry about finances. The vouchers also gave participants more agency over their health and had positive impacts on their mental and emotional well-being. A few participants reported feeling embarrassed to use the voucher. The voucher amount was insufficient for many participants. They described several ways to make the most effective use of the vouchers, including purchasing items on sale. The experiences shared by the study participants suggest that a monthly voucher for healthy foods may improve well-being by providing freedom to eat foods they know help to improve health and manage diabetes. This article is linked to the Vouch 4 Diabetes randomized controlled trial (Trial Registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05776420, registered Mar 16, 2023).