California Department of Public Health - Diabetes

This project describes the Mobile Diabetes Education Center (MOBEC) at Touro University California, a community-facing diabetes prevention and management program operated with strong student engagement and supported by local healthcare partners. The DREAM Team, MOBEC was established to bring free, accessible diabetes screening and education into Solano County neighborhoods and public venues. The program began with a generous initial grant from Sutter Health and has continued to grow with additional funding and sponsor support. As of December 2024, MOBEC has reached more than 15,600 people since its first event in May 2017, provided services at over 580 events, and screened more than 4,700 individuals for high blood glucose and high blood pressure. Those metrics underscore the program's reach and sustained community presence.

MOBEC operates from a state-of-the-art mobile trailer designed to offer individualized, one-on-one sessions for community members who might otherwise lack adequate access to healthcare. Services provided include risk assessment for prediabetes and diabetes, blood glucose and A1C screening, personalized education on prevention and management strategies, blood pressure screening and counseling, and, when available, depression, cholesterol and type 1 diabetes screenings. Visitors also receive tailored guidance on lifestyle modifications, nutrition, medication education, and physical activity recommendations. The program connects participants to community resources such as tobacco cessation assistance, food distribution, transportation and other social services as needed.

Student engagement is central to MOBEC's mission. Touro University California healthcare students from medicine, pharmacy, and physician assistant programs participate through clinical rotations, volunteer opportunities and work-study roles coordinated by the DREAM Team.

MOBEC's mission is to raise awareness about diabetes and prediabetes and to empower effective self-management among those at risk or living with diabetes. Its vision focuses on cultivating a culture of prevention and lifestyle-based health optimization. The program's ongoing operations are sustained by generous gifts and grants from community sponsors; Sutter Health remains the primary ongoing sponsor, having provided the initial grant that launched MOBEC. Additional support has come from organizations such as Solano County Public Health, Kaiser Permanente, and Janssen Community Impact.