Medically Tailored Meals Cut Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure in Eight-Month Study
A study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026 found that adults with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure who received medically tailored meals for eight months saw their HbA1c drop by 0.5 percentage points and blood pressure fall by about 4 mm Hg. Participants also reported improved food security.
Adults with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure who received medically tailored meals for eight months improved their blood sugar control, lowered their blood pressure, and gained better access to nutritious food, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026.
Researchers from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health studied 110 adults in New York City with both conditions. Participants had an average age of 63, and 68 percent were female. About 47 percent identified as Hispanic and 43 percent as Black.
One group received 10 medically tailored meals per week for the full eight months. A second group received the same number for the first three months, then gradually reduced to five meals per week over the final five months. Both groups also received nutrition counseling, cooking demonstrations, and heart health education.
After eight months, both groups showed a three-point improvement on a scale measuring adherence to a Mediterranean-style eating pattern. HbA1c, a marker of average blood sugar, dropped by about 0.5 percentage points. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell by approximately 4 mm Hg.
Participants in both groups were more than twice as likely to report better food security after completing the program.
A key finding was that gradually reducing the number of meals did not appear to weaken the health improvements, as long as participants continued receiving nutrition education and cooking support.
"A medically tailored meals program is an effective approach to lower blood pressure and blood glucose in patients living with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure," said lead author Nour Makarem, PhD, FAHA, of Columbia University.
The findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed. Researchers say larger studies are needed to confirm the results.
