by Devin Bowen

Students with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are being held back by the lack of medical care in Humboldt County. The local hospital, St. Joseph Providence in Eureka, Calif., shows no record of having an endocrinologist for appointments and services for diabetic care through their website. The Providence website offers information about endocrinologist services and links to diabetes support, yet does not have an endocrinologist locally. The nearest endocrinologist that is provided by Providence is located in Santa Rosa, 250 miles away from campus.

​Emily Schwab, a Cal Poly Humboldt sophomore majoring in marine biology, shared her and her family’s worry about not having an accessible endocrinologist. 

“The most frustrating thing is my parents [are] worried about me having an episode or needing an endocrinologist in an emergency,” Schwab said. “There isn’t one in Humboldt, or anywhere near.”

Schwab and her family also harbor concerns about having to use alternative options like the Student Health & Wellbeing Services (SHWS) located on campus.

“I have used the health center to get my A1C reading, but not for supplies,” Schwab said. “They were helpful, but they only know so much. I have some other medical issues as a result of having Type One, and they were not knowledgeable enough to help too much.”

The SHWS on campus does provide medical care for T1D students yet still holds limits. Important services like A1C lab work are provided with SHWS. A1C is a blood test to measure the sugar levels for diabetic patients. Results on having high blood sugar can leave dangerous side effects like Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) from lack of medical supplies such as Insulin and Glucose Monitors. Though the SHWS does not have all the necessities for endocrinologist services, it is the best current alternative to driving 250 miles away for one. They are typically open for appointments, prescription pick-up and labs Monday through Friday, with alternating hours for students.

“Students can schedule appointments to discuss care plans, glucose monitoring, and referrals to off-campus specialists if needed,” Communications Specialist Melissa Hutsell said in an email on Oct.17. “For students with Type 1 diabetes, SHWS medical providers can provide care as a fill-in for their regular endocrinologist, do routine labs, refill prescriptions, check for infections, provide ongoing education and communicate with their endocrinologist as needed.”

​ Other resources for T1D through campus are the Campus Disability Resource Center (CDRC) and the DiabetesLink Club. Currently, the DiabetesLink Club has been inactive since spring of 2024, though their Instagram under @cph_diabeteslink provides links for diabetic support outside of the university. 

Junior mathematics major Aaron Ramirez has been a DiabetesLink club member since the fall of 2023. Ramirez shared how connecting with the club has been a gratifying experience while communicating other services that can benefit students with diabetes.

“I am truly grateful that there is a group here on campus that not only allows me to connect with other Type 1 Diabetics here in the community, but also allows me to be around people who also know the daily struggles of dealing with T1D,” Ramirez said. “Although diabetes is an invisible disability, it still takes a toll on those who have to deal with it every day. So, it would be nice to have some mental health services and some smaller resources that we have to use, like lancets or test strips.”

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Devin Bowen is a journalism major and also the social media manager for the student-run radio station, KRFH. She enjoys collecting vinyl records and exploring new artists. They hope to spread new experiences and influence a different perspective with music and culture through The Lumberjack. Contact them at dlb155@humboldt.edu.