A Grant That Opens Doors
Touro University California Joins Breakthrough T1D in Expanding Diabetes Screening Access
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the team at Touro University California (TUC) gathered around the Mobile Diabetes Education Center (MOBEC), a familiar sight in Vallejo and surrounding communities. There was a sense of celebration in the air, a recognition that the work TUC has been doing for years to fight diabetes was about to reach even more people who need it most.
Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest presented a $50,000 Health Access Hero Award grant to Breakthrough T1D, the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes research and advocacy. Through this grant, TUC’s MOBEC will expand type 1 diabetes services, bringing hope and knowledge directly to neighborhoods where healthcare access is limited. This grant promises to be a lifeline for families who might never know they’re at risk until it’s too late.
“This partnership means we can help people identify risk for type 1 diabetes before they develop hyperglycemia and symptoms appear,” said Dr. Jay Shubrook, Professor and Diabetologist in TUC’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Early detection changes everything, it can prevent life-threatening complications and give people and their families time to prepare.”
The science behind this initiative is simple but powerful: a quick blood test can detect autoantibodies that signal the onset of type 1 diabetes, often years before insulin is needed. For families, this knowledge can be the difference between a crisis and a plan.
As MOBEC prepares to roll out expanded services, the excitement is palpable. For TUC, this grant is a reaffirmation of its mission to advance health and community-based care. For Breakthrough T1D, it’s another step toward a future where no one faces type 1 diabetes alone.
Why It Matters
Type 1 diabetes can strike at any age, often without warning. With incidence rates rising, programs like MOBEC are essential to closing gaps in care and ensuring that every family has access to life-saving information.
Call to Action
Community members are encouraged to take advantage of this free screening opportunity.
To learn more about upcoming events or schedule a screening, visit tu.edu/mobec.