Community Outreach

Alongside caring for and managing its patient population, the Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center collaborates with a wide array of community-based partner organizations such as the Hoag’s Center for Healthy Living to meet the unique diabetes-related health care needs of the vulnerable and under-served groups.

Sweet Life – FREE Cooking Demonstrations

With the philosophy that managing diabetes through nutrition doesn’t have to be boring or tasteless, a diabetes nutritionist and Hoag Executive Chef design delicious, nutritious, and easy-to-prepare meals that are tailored to the dietary needs of those with diabetes.

School-based Community Garden

The Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center supports a kitchen garden at the Rea Elementary School to encourage kids to explore benefits of gardening, engaging with nature, and learning to build a community through both formal programming and informal participation.

Prevention of Obesity and Diabetes through Education and Resources (PODER)

This wonderful and a very popular program is offered through CHOC at the diabetes center and a few other places in Orange County, CA. The primary aim is to provide free diabetes and obesity prevention education, and cooking and exercise classes in a community-based, family centered setting.

Senior Center Education

Certified Diabetes Educators and social workers from the diabetes center visit senior centers in and around Orange County to help improve awareness around diabetes and its management in senior adults and their care givers.

Free peer support groups for people with diabetes

Regular peer support groups are held at the diabetes center for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These support groups are offered at no cost to the patient and are facilitated by a social worker who is trained to offer psychological support to those with diabetes and their care givers.