California AgrAbility first met Francisco in 2015 while visiting the migrant housing centers in the Delta region. At the time, he was living with diabetes but hadn’t yet seen a doctor. His health was beginning to interfere with his work—he often felt dizzy and struggled to keep up with the fast pace of picking pears. Things became even more real when one of his housemates was hospitalized and later diagnosed with diabetes. Seeing his friend go through that experience, without having access to information or resources, pushed Francisco to take steps to care for his own health.
With California AgrAbility’s help, Francisco set up transportation and started receiving care at Clínica Tepati. There he had his first A1C test, which showed levels above 8. He joined the Diabetes Interest Group at the clinic, where he learned healthy recipes, tips for controlling his blood sugar, and found encouragement from others facing the same challenges. Within a few months, his A1C dropped to normal levels. Although adjusting to new foods and medication made him feel tired at first, he stuck with it and slowly adapted.
Over the years, Francisco has continued to make his health a priority. As part of this next step in his care, he began using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). With the guidance of a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), he learned how to use the device and now checks his blood sugar levels in real time. Having the CGM has given him more confidence and peace of mind—he feels more in control and better able to respond to changes before they become problems.
Today, Francisco continues to watch his diet, stay on top of his medical care, and embrace new tools to keep his diabetes under control. His commitment to his health has allowed him to keep living a full and active life, both at work and at home.