Local Hospital Announces Partnership With World Leader In Diabetes Care

About 26 million Americans have diabetes, and about 44,000 people in Eastern Riverside County live with the disease.

Desert Regional Medical Center is now providing world-class care for diabetes patients in the Coachella Valley — thanks to a partnership with the Boston-based Joslin Diabetes Center.

A ribbon cutting at the hospital’s Stergios Building celebrated the affiliation, which gives Desert Regional access to research and resources it has never had before.

“We had a great education program that’s been in effect for more than 10 years. However, we didn’t have the physician on staff to help provide that care,” said Sande Quattlebaum, the program director at the Joslin Center. “So now, the patients can see their physician, and they can have an education at the same time, in the same visit.”

Several people living with diabetes for at least 50 years were recognized during the ceremony.

Indio resident Cecilia Marsh was among them and said she was first diagnosed 61 years ago.

“I was told in 1950 that I would live to the ripe, old age of 40. I’m 78,” said Marsh.

She credits new technology, like her insulin pump, for keeping her alive over the years.

Pushpinder Guleria, M.D. is the medical director for the center and said the future looks bright for treating diabetes patients.

“There are some new drugs and technologies that are in the pipeline that we are very excited about that may become available in the very near future,” he said.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.