Highlights Importance of Nutrition Assistance Programs
The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) urges Congress to end the government shutdown, enabling the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to support the nutrition of Americans with limited financial resources and assist them in buying groceries. Nearly 42 million Americans receive monthly benefits. A loss of this resource can lead to food insecurity, which increases the risk for type 2 diabetes and makes it harder to manage.
Reduction in access to essential nutrition assistance programs would devastate underserved individuals living with diabetes, making it difficult to manage their own care and prevent comorbidities or hospitalizations that may result from poor nutrition management.
SNAP participation can lead to lower increases in diabetes prevalence and a reduced reliance on prescription medication to manage care. Continuing access to healthy nutrition is shown to have important medical benefits for people living with diabetes, including potential type 2 diabetes remission.
In the ADA’s 2025 Access and Affordability Survey, 28% of respondents participated in SNAP. Nationally, over 13% of people below the federal poverty level are living with diabetes. With the increase of diabetes diagnoses in the U.S. and the disproportionate burden impacting individuals experiencing poverty or limited financial resources, understanding the association between food insecurity and food assistance is critical.
We urge Congress to end the government shutdown to allow SNAP assistance to continue.
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About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure diabetes—and we’re not stopping. There are 136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we’re fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).
