The study found that Canadians with diabetes had more difficulty accessing nutritious foods than those without the health condition. This, according to the authors, is associated with unhealthy food choices such as eating less fruits and vegetables. The researchers also found that people with diabetes exhibited other unhealthy behaviours such as being less physically active and smoking. Rates of HFI, however, were higher for people on social assistance, regardless if they had diabetes or not.

HFI is also connected to mental health, according to the authors. They found that HFI was linked with such issues as mood disorders, lower satisfaction with life and higher self-perceived stress levels.

Moreover, the odds of experiencing HFI were greater for two groups of people diagnosed with diabetes: adults under the age of 40 and women between ages 12 to 45.

But, despite being food insecure, people did not encounter any barriers when it came to accessing diabetes management services, such as having their blood sugars checked and receiving eye exam referrals by their physician. This is not surprising, says Gucciardi, given Canadians' universal access to health-care services.

Guccardi says for people living with diabetes, managing their health condition comes down to basic necessities. "If you don't have enough money to purchase food for your household, this is a stressor that will impact not only your illness management but your overall well-being adversely."

"To prevent diabetes complications, we need to tackle the various economic issues that challenge many individuals and households. But doing so will require an upfront investment from the government."

Source: Ryerson University