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What Is the Driving Out Diabetes Initiative?

Driving Out Diabetes, a Larry H. Miller Family Foundation Initiative, empowers individuals and families to access optimal wellness – actively preventing and reducing the effects of diabetes in the state of Utah. It is uniquely organized as a combination of community, clinical, and research endeavors charged with increasing healthcare access, engaging community partners, and innovating across ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Utah ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ.

Community Programs

The Wellness Bus

Mobile health unit that provides screening, coaching, and referrals in underserved communities

Family Food Matters

Family-focused nutrition and disease prevention education

Food, Movement, & You

Food access and nutrition education for families experiencing homelessness

Crush Diabetes & Team Thrive

Middle school and High school-based nutrition and diabetes prevention education

Journey to ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ

Accessible nutrition education for underserved communities

Clinical Programs

Food Pharmacy

A mobile food pantry addressing food insecurity

National Diabetes Prevention Program

Evidence-based program to reduce the risk of diabetes

ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ Coaching

Patient-centered lifestyle behavior change support

Intensive Diabetes Education and Support

Practical diabetes self-management support

Seed Grants & Publications

We pilot support for new and innovative diabetes and diabetes prevention research and share our research advances with scientific and public audiences.

Learn More About Our Research

Join Our Fight Against Diabetes

Are you passionate about promoting wellness and preventing disease? Do you participate in a vision of Utah that triumphs over the destructiveness of diabetes? Become a champion of our cause and donate today to support the many DODI programs engaged in the fight.

Portraits of Impact

Lola
Pictured here, Lola is healthier and happier now that she has the tools to prevent diabetes and access whole-person health.

Lola works long hours in the fast food industry to support herself and her son. Though only 36 years old, she always feels tired. She was diagnosed with prediabetes five years ago. But it’s been two years since she last saw a doctor.

Lola was finally connected with ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Utah’s Wellness Bus. This mobile prevention program is part of the Driving Out Diabetes initiative funded by the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation.

The Wellness Bus seeks to reduce chronic disease by providing health services and screenings for community members at no cost. At her first visit, Lola met with clinical dietician Alex Hernandez. Lola’s fatigue was so severe, she had trouble staying awake during the appointment.

This is where Lola's wellness journey began. At her first visit with the Wellness Bus, Lola received screenings that confirmed her blood glucose levels were still in the prediabetes range and her cholesterol was high. Since then, Lola has received regular one-on-one health coaching to keep her informed and motivated to make positive changes in nutrition, exercise, and goal setting.

She was also referred to low-cost clinics that accept patients without insurance and programs aiding individuals with food insecurity. She enrolled in the National Diabetes Prevention Program and participated in a Spanish-speaking cohort organized and led by the Driving Out Diabetes Initiative.

Today, Lola is feeling energized, lighter, and better overall. She has established primary care with a Spanish-speaking provider. She has experienced weight loss, lowered her cholesterol, and gone from prediabetes to blood glucose levels in the healthy, normal range.

Her success has had a ripple effect across her family. Having witnessed her transformation, her son is motivated to adopt healthier habits for himself.

Leadership

Amy Locke, MD, FAAFP

Co-director, Driving Out Diabetes Initiative
Chief Wellness Officer, ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Utah ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ
Director, Osher Center for Integrative ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ
Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Adjunct Professor, Department of Nutrition & Integrative Physiology

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Paul Estabrooks, PhD

Co-director, Driving Out Diabetes Initiative
Associate Dean of Community Engagement, College of ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ
Professor, Department of ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ & Kinesiology

Scott Summers, PhD

Co-Director, Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center
Chair and Distinguished Professor, Department of Nutrition & Integrative Physiology

Jared Rutter, PhD

Co-director, Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center
Distinguished Professor, Department of Biochemistry
Member, Nuclear Control of Cell Growth and Differentiation Program, Huntsman Cancer Institute

Corrine Welt, MD

Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine

View Profile

Contact Us

Emily Kay

Senior Manager, Diabetes Strategic Initiatives
emily.kay@hsc.utah.edu

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