Carl* kept his diabetes under control with the same fervor he had remained clean and sober for over thirty years.  When his plant closed, Carl lost his health insurance and was unable to find a job quickly to replace his income.  He tried to remain upbeat and aggressive in his job search, but his physical and mental health declined, as the stresses of unemployment, such as maintaining his mortgage and health with little income, wore him down.  Support from his recovery group helped him to continue to maintain his sobriety, but what he could not tell them was that he could not afford to buy nutritious foods to support his recommended diabetic diet, or his insulin.  He purchased the cheapest possible food, whatever food was on-sale, in order to staunch hunger—most often it was food that was contraindicated for his condition.   His health declined to the point that he could no longer follow through on his job search—he looked unhealthy, and his diabetes presented complications that he could not address.  He spent more and more time at home, weakened and unable to take care of himself, depressed.  His unemployment checks were about to run out. 
When Caring Cuisine was notified of Carl’s situation, the program was able to provide Carl with prepared meals and groceries suitable for diabetics, delivered to his home.  He was also referred to a health care provider who could help him negotiate benefits to assist him in regaining his health and cope with the changes in his life.

Thanks to the support of Neighbor-to-Neighbor Lifeline, Caring Cuisine has been able to expand its efforts to help critically and chronically ill members of our community like Carl, for whom a nutritious, medically prescribed diet might have been unattainable.  Carl is now on the road to more positive health outcomes.
 *Name and some details have been changed to protect Carl’s privacy.