An organization in Philadelphia has started using food as medicine, serving special meals to help treat diabetes patients.
Tanya Farmer has been diabetic since 1991 and said that living with the disease has been a daily struggle. Since receiving the MANNA meals from Health Partners Plans, Farmer said she has noticed her health improve.
The special meals are pre-packaged and kept to a specific portion size. The pilot program provides meals to diabetes patients three times a day for about 12 weeks.
"We’ve really been fighting and advocating to get food as medicine recognized through insurance companies for many, many years," said Manna CEO Sue Daugherty, R.D., L.D.N.
Farmer said since using the MANNA meals, she has lost 20 pounds and visits the emergency room less frequently.
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