LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and Supervisor Janice Hahn to proclaim November 2022 as Diabetes Awareness Month in Los Angeles County and to expand access to healthy and nutritious food for residents most in-need.

For low-income communities in LA County, the incidence of type 2 diabetes can partially be attributed to problems accessing enough healthy food, known as nutrition insecurity. A lack of nutritious food can significantly increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, as well as affect how people with diabetes can manage their health. This is often driven by the fact that some communities find nutritious food hard to access, or it can be too expensive for many to afford. 1 in 3 Latino and Black children are living in poverty and experiencing food insecurity.

“We are declaring the month of November as Los Angeles County Diabetes Awareness Month to focus our attention on this critical health issue and many of the potential factors that contribute to type 2 diabetes, like sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and lack of access to nutritious food,” said Supervisor Solis. “This motion will explore examining successful County programs that increase access to healthy good in low-income communities, while helping raise awareness to help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in our most vulnerable communities in the future.”

“This report shows that sugary drinks are a real problem impacting the health and well-being of our kids. The issue I see is that sugary options are often cheaper options, and healthier alternatives are not always affordable. We have a lot of work to do to shift this reality and tackle the persistent health disparities our kids are experiencing,” said Supervisor Hahn.

In addition to proclaiming November 2022 as Diabetes Awareness Month, the motion instructs the Director of Public Health, in collaboration with the Director of Health Services, the Executive Director of the Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, the Interim Director of Public Social Services, the Alliance for Health Integration, the Los Angeles County Food Equity Roundtable, and the Los Angeles County-based health plans, to take the following actions and provide to the Board in 120 days a report back with the results:

  • Disseminate a report focused on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among children and youth in Los Angeles County with policy recommendations for improving the overall health of the community including potential key dietary actions.
  • Explore the feasibility of expanding the produce prescription project, identifying new partners focused on communities with a high prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, with an analysis of funding sources to support this expansion.
  • Explore strategies for making the Market Match program sustainable and housed by the Department of Social Services.
  • Identify opportunities for implementing California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Community Supports that focus on type 2 diabetes management and treatment.

To read today’s full motion click here.

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