Food insecurity, type 2 diabetes, and hyperglycaemia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

AIMS: Food insecurity (FIS) is a major public health issue with possible implications for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to explore the association between FIS and T2DM. METHODS: We performed a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. All cross‐sectional, peer‐reviewed studies investigating the link between FIS and T2DM were included. Population characteristics, study sizes, covariates, T2DM diagnoses, and diabetes‐related clinical measures such as fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c were extracted from each study. Outcomes were compared between food insecure and food secure individuals. Effect sizes were combined across studies using the random effect model. RESULTS: Forty‐nine peer‐reviewed studies investigating the link between FIS and T2DM were identified (n = 258,250). Results of meta‐analyses showed no association between FIS and clinically determined T2DM either through FBG or HbA1c: OR = 1.22 [95%CI: 0.96, 1.55], Q(df = 5) = 12.5, I (2) = 60% and OR = 1.21 [95%CI: 0.95, 1.54], Q(df = 5) = 14; I (2) = 71% respectively. Standardized mean difference (SMD) meta‐analyses yielded no association between FIS and FBG or HbA1c: g = 0.06 [95%CI: −0.06, 0.17], Q(df = 5) = 15.8, I (2) = 68%; g = 0.11 [95% CI: −0.02, 0.25], Q(df = 7) = 26.8, I (2) = 74% respectively. For children, no association was found between FIS and HbA1c: g = 0.06 [95%CI: 0.00, 0.17], Q(df = 2) = 5.7, I (2) = 65%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite multiple proposed mechanisms linking FIS to T2DM, integration of the available literature suggests FIS is not associated with clinically determined T2DM or increases in FBG or HbA1c among adult patients.