New Program Serving Meals, Schooling To Tulsans With Sort 2 Diabetes

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In a few months, 50 people with type 2 diabetes and high A1C levels will be given a box of fresh groceries every two weeks for a year through a program called Tulsa FreshRX.

Every two weeks a box of free, fresh, local, and nutritious food and a tablet full of cooking classes and food education that don’t require WiFi to access. This is the future for 50 people living in the North Tulsa area as of June.

“We select from a group of customers with more than eight A1C levels and then do a small registration process to track racial differences and mental health diets over the course of a year,” said Erin Martin of Tulsa FreshRX.

The organizers of Tulsa FreshRX are currently in the registration phase. They said it took a year of work and five months of fundraising to get to that point where they can make the plan public.

“With the intention of lowering A1C levels by one to two percent annually, this would mean savings in healthcare costs of $ 16,000 to $ 20,000, but it would also improve the quality of life,” said Martin.

To enroll in the program, you must be a Type 2 diabetic with a high A1C score. You must attend clinic visits at Crossover Health Services and take the courses on your tablet. The idea is that all participants play an active role in improving their health, knowing that they are not alone in this.

“About seven years ago I weighed about 236 pounds, now I’ve dropped my weight to 185,” said patient Dunbar Brown.

Brown has had type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years. His weight loss inspired his wife, Brenda, and now they are challenging each other.

“I’m working on about 10 more,” said Dunbar.

The people behind Tulsa FreshRX believe that food is medicine and hope that the program will continue to grow over the years.

“I’m just so grateful to be a part of it. To be able to witness it and support people and people of all races and backgrounds and all socio-economic conditions to have access to health because it means so much for everyone, “said Martin.

To participate, contact Erin Martin at 818.288.7771 or Crossover Health Services at 940 E. 36th St. N. in Tulsa.