Leticia Martinez is program manager of Sembrando Nuestro Manana (Sowing Our Tomorrow) , El Rio's Health Education Program. Leticia Martinez is a bilingual registered dietician with a Master's in Science and Public Health. She has a Board Certificate for Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM). Leticia offers one-on-one nutrition counseling and diabetes education as well as diabetes classes. Each regimen developed is tailored to the specific healthcare needs of the individual patient.

Leticia reviews the lifestyle patterns of each of her patients (i.e. nutrition and exercise habits) and discusses ways they can improve their health through modifying these behaviors. Each plan that Leticia devises is specific to that particular patient and his or her individual needs. Specific to diabetes, Leticia advocates a four-step approach to controlling the disease, which includes education, diet, exercise, and medication. Through regular follow-up appointments with her patients, Leticia is able to monitor the progress of their diabetes and ensure that their diabetes is controlled and complications are prevented. She works closely with patients' health care provider to recommend new medications, adjust current treatment plans, make referrals to health care specialists, and ensure that all lab work is up-to-date.

Leticia notes her goal is to help patients and their families manage and care for their diabetes by teaching patients and families the necessary skills to do so. Leticia makes a difference in her patient's lives with the following educational topics:

• glucose monitoring
• selecting healthy foods
• selecting physical activity
• caring for the feet
• information sharing on disease complications
• referrals to specialists
• support and encouragement

Leticia's office is located in El Rio's Main Clinic at 839 W. Congress Street. For more information on sessions and classes, contact Leticia at 670-3904.