Together in Health

The Story

Roy Luna was 41 years old and had just reached one year of sobriety. He had Medi-Cal insurance and was looking for a job. He has had type 2 diabetes for decades and his blood sugars have been high for years, despite being on medications—including 60 units of insulin a day. When he tried to eat healthier or eat less, he would find himself starving and reaching for junk food. He didn’t realize that the insulin was behind his ravenous appetite. He could only see his Medi-Cal doctor every 1-3 months for less than 30 minutes, so getting the guidance he needed to lower the insulin as he changed his habits was impossible.

Roy’s good friend gifted him a one-year membership at East Bay Health with Dr. Hu. He started coming for weekly visits of 30 to 90 minutes where he received detailed nutritional guidance tailored to his budget and schedule. He also learned about culinary medicine and how to meal prep with our on-site chef Cindy Gershen. After 6 weeks, he lost 6 pounds and was down to 20 units of insulin a day.

After one year of consistent efforts despite life’s ups and downs, Roy’s blood sugars have lowered significantly and he had lost 25 pounds. He now also has a stable job, is exploring career options, and working towards his dream of creating custom sneakers for a living. He only uses insulin as needed, continues to eat healthy, and is working on getting more consistent workouts. He has reconnected with old friends and even started playing baseball again. He just celebrated two years of sobriety and is excited for the continued growth and transformation ahead.

Roy’s journey is the inspiration behind East Bay Health’s patient sponsorship program, Together in Health. When you donate, you give highly motivated individuals a chance to transform their lives.

Every $5000 will support a one-year membership for someone like Roy. Because big life changes require not just desire and motivation, but also other factors such as resiliency and social support, applicants go through a rigorous screening and interview process with our doctors to assess readiness for and dedication to change.

Donate today and make a difference