Colorful illustration with diverse silhouettes of people in various bright colors, set against a striped, patterned background. Large white script text across the top reads: “Latinx Diabetes Clinic.”.

Latinx Diabetes Clinic at UW Medicine Diabetes Institute

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.

Public Transit Directions (Spanish) Public Transit Directions (English)

About the Latinx Clinic

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.

Two women sit at a round table in a medical office. One is touching a medical training mannequin torso while the other looks on, smiling. A medical supplies box and paperwork are on the table.

Office scene with several people working at desks with computers. Glass dividers separate workspaces, and the background shows bright lighting and modern decor. One person interacts with a receptionist behind the counter.

Educational Materials

A white icon of a piece of paper with horizontal lines, a leaf design on the left side, and a pencil positioned diagonally across the bottom right corner.

Classes

Clase 1 El equilibrio de la glucosa

Clase 2. Medicamentos y glucosa

Clase 3 LOs alimentos y la glucosa

Clase 4 y 5. Los alimentos y la actividad fisica

Clase 6 El corazon

Clase 7 Diabetes y colesterol

Clase 8 Diabetes y los pies

Clase 9 Estres

Clase 10 Prevenir complicaciones

Clase 11 Usted y su equipo

Clase-12-Vivir-bien-con-diabetes

Our Team

Dedicated UWMDI professionals committed to diabetes research.

Lorena Alarcon-Casas Wright, MD, FACE

Diabetologist, Spanish native-speaking and familiar with cultural and linguistic issues in the LatinX community

Smiling older man with short gray hair, glasses, and a mustache, wearing a blue checked blazer over a light blue shirt, posing in front of a plain gray background.

Leo Morales, MD, PhD, MPH

Bilingual internal medicine provider

A woman with long straight brown hair and bangs, wearing a gray top and a necklace, smiles while standing outside in front of green bushes and a building with windows.

Melissa Montalto, RD

Bilingual Nutritionist/Certified Diabetes Educator

A man with short brown hair and a beard, wearing a blue plaid shirt, smiles while standing in front of a background split vertically between white and teal.

Matthew Thomas

Diabetes Clinic Health Services Manager

A woman with dark hair styled in a center part smiles at the camera. She wears a beige blazer, large gold earrings, and a gold necklace with an initial pendant. The background is softly lit and neutral.

Evelyn Millan

Medical Social Work Intern

A woman with wavy dark hair and gray highlights smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black top with lace details and a lanyard, standing against a light green geometric-patterned wall.

Rhonda Rodriguez

Spanish-speaking Patient Services Specialists

A woman with long dark wavy hair, styled with a hair clip, is looking at the camera. She has full makeup with defined eyebrows, dark eyeliner, and mauve lipstick. She is wearing a dark top with a floral pattern.

Ixallana Garcia

Bilingual Medical Assistant

Community Events

Contact Us

UW Medicine Diabetes Institute
Diabetes Institute Clinic
750 Republican St.
Seattle, WA 98109

Phone: 206-520-5000
FAX: 206-598-4976

The Diabetes Institute Clinic is located on the 3rd floor of the UW Medicine South Lake Union F bldg.

Para llamar a el Instituto de Diabetes con intérprete primero llame al 206-520-5222 (linea de intérprete) y pida hablar con “Diabetes Institute” al 206-520-5000

Si usted es un paciente de UW Latinx Diabetes Clinic pida al interprete llamar a “Diabetes Clinic” al 206-598-4882

Make An Appointment