At 76, Ryan says she now walks more, gets out of the house often and spends more time with friends, all things that once felt out of reach.

“I just feel better,” Ryan says. “I have more energy and I want to get out and do things instead of staying home.”

Ryan joined Wellness Rx, University of Vermont Health – Elizabethtown Community Hospital’s produce prescription program, after being diagnosed with diabetes and feeling unsure of what to do next.

“You don’t always know what you’re supposed to eat and what you’re not,” Ryan says. “I thought I was doing okay, but I really needed guidance.”

Support Beyond the Doctor’s Office

Wellness Rx pairs patients with one‑on‑one nutrition education, lifestyle coaching and vouchers to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at local stores. Ryan enrolled alongside her niece, attending monthly visits with Denise McLaughlin, RN, a certified diabetes care and education specialist at the hospital.

“It really does hold you accountable,” Ryan says. “When you know you’re going to see someone every month, you want to do well.”

Those visits focused on realistic changes: walking more, understanding medications, reading food labels and learning new recipes that worked at home.

“The recipes were very helpful,” Ryan recalls. “And if there was something I didn’t like, Denise would help me substitute something else. She never made it feel overwhelming.”

The produce vouchers made a difference as well.

“Fruits and vegetables are expensive,” Ryan says. “That $20 a month really helps. Sometimes it felt like it was practically free.”

Over the course of a year, the changes added up. Ryan lost 60 pounds. She also lowered her A1C, a long-term measure of blood sugar control, to 5.4%, well under the American Diabetes Association’s recommended goal of less than 7%.

As a result, she no longer takes diabetes medication.

McLaughlin says Ryan’s success highlights the impact of combining medical care with food access and education.

“Wellness Rx gives people the tools and the time they need to make real changes,” McLaughlin says. “Sarah did the work, and the results speak for themselves.”

Program Success Beyond One Patient

Across the program, similar results are emerging. In 2025, Wellness Rx served 78 participants, a 24% increase from the year before. On average, participants lost 11 pounds and lowered their A1C by 0.6%, reducing their risk of serious diabetes complications.

For Ryan, the impact goes beyond numbers on a chart, and she encourages others managing diabetes or weight to sign up for Wellness Rx. “I’m more social now,” Ryan says. “I joined the senior center. You get initiative – you want to see people, do things, live life.”