DREAM Team Updates June 2025

DREAM Team Updates

December 2025

MOBEC HIGHLIGHT

SUPPORT FROM BREAKTHROUGH T1D AND SUN LIFE

On Nov. 2, 2025, Breakthrough T1D, Sun Life, and Touro University California’s Mobile Diabetes Education Center (MOBEC) gathered on Touro University’s campus to kick off National Diabetes Awareness Month. On this occasion, Sun Life presented Breakthrough T1D with its Health Access Heroes Award. With this 50K award grant to Breakthrough T1D, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, Sun Life supports the expansion of their T1D early detection program in Northern California. In partnership with the Mobile Diabetes Education Center, this initiative aims to increase access to T1D screening, with a focus on underserved communities.

MOBEC has received funding from the Breakthrough T1D to support community-based antibody screening for early-stage type 1 diabetes mellitus. This funding allows MOBEC to offer the national screening guidelines recommended for type 1 diabetes -with autoantibodies- rather than waiting until their blood glucose becomes abnormal. For MOBEC, this means it can provide free screening to anyone who would like to be screened, as well as targeted screening for individuals at high risk- people with a family history of type 1 diabetes and those with a personal or family history of autoimmune disease.

The MOBEC team is very grateful to partner in this initiative and for the generous grant that helps us advance our work to provide healthcare access to our communities.

MOBILE DIABETES EDUCATION CENTER (MOBEC)

SERVING SOLANO AND NAPA COUNTIES

The MOBEC Team continues to partner with sites throughout Solano County to provide much-needed prediabetes and diabetes awareness services and one-on-one self-management diabetes education to our community. These sites include neighborhood faith-based organizations, food distribution sites, senior housing complexes, schools, libraries, local events and other locations. Over three hundred and thirty people received blood glucose and/or blood pressure screenings through MOBEC services between June 2025 and November 2025. Of those, 22% were found to have blood glucose A1C above the normal range (people with no previous diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes).

Thanks to Abbott's generous support, the MOBEC Team has offered screening for cholesterol levels and A1C testing to everyone visiting in addition to its regular services. We have witnessed firsthand the benefits of testing at random in a community setting. Individuals under the recommended age for testing and with no symptoms have found their cholesterol and/or blood glucose levels to be slightly elevated when they are visiting MOBEC. For others, these random tests may serve as a validation of the efforts they have been making to change lifestyle habits, or serve as a reminder to continue making progress.

Our new project with BreakthroughT1D has performed 50 type 1 Diabetes screenings since July 2025. Unlike all other forms of diabetes, screening is not based on glucose testing but rather on testing for autoimmune antibodies. At MOBEC, we will be offering this screening using fingerstick testing. One thing that is different is that we will not receive the results immediately, as they must be sent to a specialized lab, and the results will be returned in 2-4 weeks. If you want to know more about your risk of type 1 diabetes or want to be screened (kids age 3+ and adults), come check us out at a MOBEC event.

In the Fall of 2025, MOBEC has started implementing a pilot program partnering with Emmanuel Temple Apostolic Church. The HeartStrong Project recruit Heart-to-Heart Ambassadors to volunteer at their local church to promote self-monitoring blood pressures with an aim to reduce heart disease and its complications. These volunteers are trained on the proper way of checking blood pressures and raise awareness of heart health practices within their own communities. MOBEC and Touro students provide equipment, education materials, training and support for the congregation and their members to carry out this mission. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about this pilot project.

MOBEC events not only benefit the participants, they also provide an opportunity for the community to know about Touro programs and students. Touro students gain valuable experience talking with participants about their test results and preventative measures.

Check our Events section to find out where and when MOBEC will be on the road at tu.edu/mobec. TUC students are encouraged to participate in our community visits. Sign up to volunteer on MOBEC at www.wejoinin.com/sheets/tpaiw.

SUCCESS WITH DIABETES

THE DIABETES EDUCATION PROJECT

What looks like a group of people playing bingo or Jeopardy are TUC students and community members enjoying a Success with Diabetes class! Success with Diabetes is an engaging six-session program designed to help people with type 2 diabetes understand their condition and provide tools to manage their diabetes successfully. Participants learn about various aspects of healthy living, including stress management, nutrition, medications, and more.

In the last six months, we offered two cohorts at the Florence Douglas Center and at the Joseph Nelson Community Center in Suisun City with a total of 16 participants enrolled. We'll kick off 2026 with two in-person sessions of Success with Diabetes. In an effort to serve our Spanish-speaking families, we are offering a Success with Diabetes series in Vallejo. Starting in January, this 6-session workshop explains the fundamentals of diabetes and self-management techniques. We hope this series in Spanish will allow families who are native speakers feel comfortable asking personal questions to further understand the disease state and to effectively manage their diabetes. Sign up now as Spanish classes are not offered regularly. Don't miss this opportunity! In February, a 6-week English session at the Crosswalk Community Church in Napa. For community members interested in participating in this free classes or students interested in our mission, please contact our team at (707) 638-5970 or tuc.mobec@tu.edu.

NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH 2025 RECAP

BUILDING AWARENESS, INSPIRING ACTION.

November is National Diabetes Month – let’s transform awareness into action with simple steps that safeguard long-term health. To celebrate this month, the Touro University California campus continued its traditions.

On November 2nd, many clinicians in the area joined us for the 2025 Diabetes Update: High-Impact Management for Clinicians – Stepping into the Future!, a live, clinician-focused conference. This year was extra special because it marked our 10th anniversary, and we were back on campus at the Farragut Inn. The session provided practice-ready updates in cardio-kidney-metabolic care, diabetes technology integration, and person-centered communication—highlighted by case-based pearls attendees could apply in their very next clinic. It was ideal for primary care, endocrinology, pharmacy, nursing, and diabetes education teams, emphasizing actionable screening (eGFR/uACR and FIB-4) and equitable access to technology.

On November 12th, The ADCES Student Community partnered with 13 student organizations across the PA, Pharmacy, and COM programs to host the World Diabetes Day celebration. This event was made possible by SD Erica Chiu. Clubs led a variety of interactive activities to help students learn about diabetes, including a hypoglycemia info board, pledge wall, Dart the Insulin, Jeopardy, photobooth, matching games, cornholes, and more! Many students stopped by to have fun, engage with peers, and build awareness about diabetes.

Let’s transform November’s momentum into ongoing action—join us—the DREAM Team—to promote evidence-based, person-centered diabetes care for every patient we serve.

NATIONAL DPP LIFESTYLE CHANGE PROGRAM

WORKING TO PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES

A lifestyle change is often easier said than done, and our National Diabetes Prevention Program is here to help one step at a time! TUC is a partner organization of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a CDC-recognized Lifestyle Change Program to help people with prediabetes. Since 2015, many TUC students have become DPP coaches to facilitate engaging lectures and active discussions around balanced eating, physical activity, stress management, and self-motivation. The one-year program empowers community members to take charge of their health and reverse their diagnosis of prediabetes! Our experienced lifestyle coach, Rochelle Silverman, leads the group towards improved lifestyle habits to prevent diabetes. We welcome trained students to be lifestyle coaches to assist in the cohorts.

Our DPP Lifestyle Change Program has officially transitioned our delivery modality from "in-person" to "in-person with a distance-learning component". This new modality will allow more flexibility for our program to conduct cohorts using the combination of in-person sessions and virtual live sessions. Participants and coaches will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds - the convenience of attending sessions at the comfort of your chosen location and having some in-person contacts and connections throughout the year.

In the Fall of 2025, we started our first hybrid cohort. Some of these classes are met in-person while most classes are done via Zoom. There are 12 participants enrolled in this cohort. Students have provided valuable assistance and coaching to the group.

Additionally, our partner, The Skinny Gene Foundation, has been assisting us in managing the registration details, guiding us one step closer to receiving reimbursements for running this program. To volunteer as a student coach, and for community members who are ready to have a healthier, better tomorrow, please contact our team at (707) 638-5970 or tuc.mobec@tu.edu.

NATIONAL DPP LIFESTYLE COACH TRAINING

BECOME A LIFESTYLE COACH

Our National DPP (Diabetes Prevention Program) Lifestyle Coach Training Program continues to offer training in a virtual setting as an elective for TUC College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Pharmacy students, and for coaches to receive the Lifestyle Coach Certification to offer this program in their own communities. It may seem challenging to attend a training for 12 hours via Zoom over two or three days; however, this training includes plenty of interactive activities to keep trainees active and involved for the duration of the training. Prospective Lifestyle Coaches participate in Zoom breakout rooms with peers in small groups. Hands-on activities allow students to practice utilizing coaching skills and leading group sessions. This allows coaches to gain confidence in leading a group of individuals toward making meaningful lifestyle changes. In the last 6 months, this TUC program has trained 26 Lifestyle Coaches. To learn more about TUC’s National DPP Lifestyle Coach Training Program, please visit diabetesprevention.tu.edu to register. One elective course credit is available to TUC COM and COP students.

ANNOUNCING THE DIABETES INSTITUTE AT TOURO UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA (TUC)

Touro University California will announce the start of the Diabetes Institute on January 14, 2026, at the Metabolic Summit on TUC campus at the Farragut Inn. Touro University California is uniquely situated to be a regional and national leader in diabetes research, patient care, community outreach, and professional education. Establishing the Diabetes Institute under TUC's umbrella will create a smoother pathway for members from the different TUC colleges to work collaboratively and improve our competitiveness for external funding. This will also allow the expansion of the DREAM Team’s existing work and its integration of clinical care, education, and research on a larger platform.

Faculty and staff with a shared vision and mission to advance the knowledge, care delivery, and population health in relation to diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic diseases. This will include basic and clinical research, clinical care, professional education, and community engagement. Faculty and staff from any college or department can join the Diabetes Institute and will retain their connection to their primary department/college.

There are four main focus areas in the TUCA Diabetes Institute.

1. 1. Clinical Care: Deliver comprehensive, person-centered, evidence-based, multidisciplinary care for prediabetes, diabetes, and comorbid conditions.
  2. Diabetes Research: Advance the science of diabetes and related conditions through innovative multidisciplinary research and leading transformative research programs.
  3. Professional Education: Develop innovative, collaborative training models and disseminate best practices in team-based care to enhance clinical care in the diabetes space (including the development of new ways to train prospective healthcare teams).
  4. Community Outreach: Partner with local, national, and global communities to engage and empower people to prevent and manage diabetes and related conditions.

Come to the Metabolic Summit to learn more. We look forward to a strong turnout.

BUILDING HEALTH FAMILIES PROGRAM

DREAM TEAM STARTS NEW PEDIATRIC DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM.

The Dream team has been awarded a sub-contract of the NIH-funded study involving the Building Healthy Families (BHF) program. BHF is a family-based pediatric weight management program for children 6-12 years old and their families. Its goal is to work with families, especially children, in identifying healthier food choices, modifying unhealthy behaviors and increasing physical activity.

Type 2 diabetes is on the rise in our children and adolescents. As many as 40% of children diagnosed with diabetes have type 2. It has been estimated that 1/3 of all US adolescents have prediabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program has been very successful in reducing the progression to type 2 diabetes in adults. It is time to put prevention to work in our children and adolescents. BHF is a CDC-recognized pediatric diabetes prevention program that has demonstrated success for both children and adults. Here at Touro University, the program will be led by Mellisa Belec, DO, MPH; Anne Lee, RD, MEd, CDCES; Traci Stevenson, DO; Grace Jones, PhD; and Jay Shubrook, DO.

We are actively recruiting families with children aged 6-12 who have prediabetes or risk factors for diabetes. The program is one year in length and will include a family-inclusive intervention featuring cooking demos, games, and activities to support healthy living and physical activity for all. To learn more, please go to: https://buildinghealthyfamilies.us/interest/ or email Grace Jones (Recruitment Coordinator- gjones7@touro.edu) or Jay Shubrook (Project Director- jshubroo@touro.edu)

We are recruiting now for a February 2026 start.

SHIRATI,TANZANIA

THIRD YEAR OF A GLOBAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP

This summer Assistant Professor and Diabetologist, Melissa Belec, DO, and the TUC's Osteopathic Medicine Global Health Team traveled to Tanzania to visit partners at Shirati KMT Hospital. This has been a longstanding partnership between Touro University California and Shirati KMT that has expanded to include diabetes care in the last three years. Shirati KMT Hospital is located in rural Shirati, Tanzania near Lake Victoria, and like many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, has seen a recent significant rise in cases of diabetes and other chronic diseases including hypertension, kidney disease, and heart disease.

As part of the collaborative work, the team helped support a large screening event for diabetes and hypertension hosted by the hospital and in the community. About 200 people attended these events. In addition to the screening, the events had an educational segment to teach community members about healthy food choices and basic information about diabetes.

Dr. Belec also held a Type 1 class with local patients with Type 1 diabetes. This class included Type 1 basics, treatment, and answering questions from patients and family members.

Additionally, the TUC team delivered education based on a modified diabetes prevention program to community health workers in order to learn the best ways to share information with these community members who can best deliver the messaging throughout the surrounding community.

Newsletter Credits

Editor: Melissa Belec, DO

Designer: Maryelli Ray