Terry Reilly helping diabetic patients through 'Fruit and Vegetable RX' program

NAMPA, Idaho (CBS2) — Terry Reilly Health Services in Nampa is helping patients with diabetes by changing the way they eat.

Their Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program is back after its launch last summer.

Before joining the program James Royer says he was eating basically whatever he wantedand he wasn't working out because his energy levels were depleted.

"I was having a lot of problems and issues and couldn't figure out what was going on and I finally had to go to the doctor," Royer said.

Royer was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and a heart problem. His A1C or blood sugar levels came in at more than 14% which is extremely high.

"I became very upset at first and just really discouraged," Royer said.

But he quickly realized he had a team of experts at terry Reilly to prescribe medication and a new diet.

That's where registered dietician Rae Krick comes in.

Last summer 174 diabetics with uncontrolled blood sugar, a high BMI and diagnosed hypertension enrolled in the 12-week fruit and veggie prescription program.

Each patient was given an allotted amount based on family size, between $80 and $200 a month, just to shop for produce.

"We had our mobile market once a week from 3-5 PM just one afternoon which made it hard for a lot of patients that had transportation issues to make it out here to get their produce," Krick said.

Now the program is open to anyone with uncontrolled diabetes and rolling into year two the market is still available on Tuesdays, but the entire experience has evolved.

"We now get to use paper vouchers that are on like a prescription pad. So it's a true prescription for fruits and vegetables," Krick said. "We have six partner stores across the treasure valley that they can shop for fruits and vegetables this year."

On top of that patients still have to option of taking a free cooking class, group education classes or free one on ones with Krick.

"My big thing with all of my patients is there's no food you can't eat even as a diabetic there's nothing that you need to chop out its just portion sizes," Krick said.

Patients who took part in the program last summer had an average drop of 1.6% when it came to their blood sugar levels most saw a decrease in BMI.

"We had 15 or so patients that decreased their A1C between 4% and 7% which is absolutely unheard of," Krick said.

It also helped tackle an even bigger problem for many in Canyon County.

"Food insecurity is spreading like wildfire as rent continues to go up in the treasure valley so people are less able to afford their rent and rent eats first so people can't necessarily afford groceries after that and without proper food," Krick said. "It's kind of hard to control the chronic diseases that you already have let alone prevent them from happening in the first place."

Today Royer's A1C levels are sitting at 5.9% which is just above normal.

"It feels very good and I'm glad I did it," Royer said. "I would say do it while you still can. Change your ways now before other health problems set in."

The program started with a grant and Krick says it's continuing to run on temporary funding. They hope to partner with a larger grocery chain to make the program permanent and expand it.

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