MTM2MTG Pilot Ancillary Study

Medically Tailored Groceries for Cardiovascular Health

The investigators will conduct an ancillary study of participants in a completed RCT of medically tailored meals to determine whether transitioning these participants to a medically tailored groceries (MTG) program is a feasible approach to sustain health effects.

This ancillary study is a single arm, pre-post design among adults with co-existing type 2 diabetes and elevated to high blood pressure who do not currently qualify for medically tailored meals (MTMs) but received them as part of their participation in an 8-month RCT on MTMs and cardiometabolic outcomes. The purpose of the ancillary study is to determine whether transitioning participants from a MTM to a MTG program (i.e., a hybrid MTM to MTG intervention) is a feasible approach to improve outcomes and sustain health effects. Participants will receive one box of medically tailored groceries each week for a period of 4 months, with each box supporting preparation of approximately 10 meals per week. No additional baseline visit will be required, as measurements collected at the 8-month visit in the parent clinical trial will serve as baseline values for the ancillary study. All participants will have their HbA1c and blood pressure measured and complete questionnaires about their diet quality, health and lifestyle behaviors, and program engagement and implementation at 4 months post receiving their first MTG box.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Type 2 diabetes diagnosis (physician diagnosed or HbA1c greater than or equal to 6.5% or diabetes medication use)
2. Hypertension diagnosis (systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 130 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 80 mmHg or physician diagnosis or hypertension medication use) or elevated blood pressure (defined as systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 120 mmHg)
3. Participation in parent trial investigating the impact of an 8-month medically-tailored meals (MTMs) intervention on cardiometabolic outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes and elevated to high blood pressure who do not currently qualify for MTMs.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cancer diagnosis
2. Undergoing cancer treatment
3. Non-English or non-Spanish speaking
4. Not cognitively able to complete study requirements
5. Severe psychiatric disorders
6. Inability to provide informed consent
7. Health conditions that could prevent safe participation or impact study outcomes (e.g., substance use disorder, dialysis, neurodegenerative conditions)