29.1 million Americans, or 9.

3% of the population has

diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2012)
Baltimore County- 9.9% in 2012, much higher than the
national average (9.3%)

Map of Percentage of
Diabetes in Maryland
2014: 11.2% in Baltimore
County
Study of healthier food pantry
initiatives on low income
diabetic prone population in
Baltimore County
Independent Research
Jocelyn Mathew
Overview
Background
Research Questions
Work in Progress
Conclusion
Background
Diabetes Mellitus: inability to regulate glucose in the
bloodstream
Associated with high carbohydrate diet
 Problem

MD Food Bank
Donations(Processed, Packaged,
High Salt and Sugar Content)
Oriole players help out in Baltimore food
bank
Research Questions
Research Formulation Questions:
How many local food banks are actually taking on this healthier food initiatives?
Are they actually healthier (how do the food banks define healthier food? What
are the different offerings or choices)
What strategies are they using to get the healthier food options from donors?
Are these food banks successful in getting their consumers to pick the healthier
choice options? How are they measuring their success?
Key Research Questions:
What is the extent of food bank interventions toward healthier food
options?
Are there best practices to increase food choices that can be spread to
other food banks not yet offering the healthier choice options?
Work Accomplished and In Progress
Information Gathering:
List of food pantries in Baltimore county and their addresses, contact information.
Discussions of the potential analysis and searching for potential data sources

(existing questionnaires or survey tools)

Online research of legislative policies, food councils

Statistical Analysis
Finding databases with relevant raw data

Specifying variables looking for correlations

Continue to refine areas of focus

defining scope of study

Before and after- intervention success

Limit to what can be feasibly done this year

 Food Banks can be used as a
way to provide better
nutrition and health care

Volunteer at Houston Food Bank tests

blood sugar levels

MD Food Bank ensures kids eat healthy

meals during summer