UW Diabetes Institute Clinic

Latinx Diabetes Clinic at the UW Medicine Diabetes Institute Clinic

The Latinx population is a vibrant, growing, and diverse community in Washington State and across the nation, enriched by a range of cultures, languages, histories, and traditions. Many Latinx individuals prefer to receive care in Spanish and may have limited English proficiency, creating a significant barrier to optimal diabetes management in a community disproportionately affected by the disease. Latinx individuals experience diabetes at younger ages and face higher rates of complications and diabetes-related mortality compared to the general population. These disparities are driven in part by inequities in access to culturally responsive and linguistically concordant healthcare. In response, the University of Washington established the Latinx Diabetes Clinic within the UW Diabetes Institute.

This clinic is open to all patients with diabetes and provides the option of receiving care from a clinical team specifically trained to deliver linguistically and culturally responsive services.

The Latinx Diabetes Clinic focuses on language concordance, cultural understanding, lifestyle and dietary practices, and the broader social determinants of health that shape diabetes outcomes. By offering care that meets the needs and lived experiences of Latinx patients, our team aims to improve engagement, enhance diabetes self-management, and ultimately reduce disparities in diabetes-related outcomes.

This innovative program is available to all Spanish-speaking patients, biweekly (held on Tuesdays and Fridays) and includes:

Dedicated, Spanish native-speaking staff familiar with cultural and linguistic barriers in the Latinx Community, including two Diabetologists, a nutritionist/certified diabetes educator, a nurse/certified diabetes educator, a social work student and patient services specialists able to assist patients at the front desk with scheduling and referrals. This team is committed to providing care for all Spanish Speaking patients with diabetes.