Primary Care Diabetes Lab
A multi-disciplinary lab dedicated to ensuring that all people can get the best diabetes preventive practices and treatments, wherever they get their care. We partner with those living with prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes to drive innovations that enhance care.
Patient Advisory Board
Brenda Cabrera
Brenda Cabrera is a native of Colorado and moved back to the state, in 2018, after being gone for 29 years. She recently returned to the banking business and enjoys being a teller for a small, hometown bank. Brenda is a graduate of Western Colorado University and she enjoys yoga, crafting and hanging out with her hubby and fur babies. She was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in 2007 and credits a low carb diet and intermittent fasting with keeping her A1C under control.
Scott Johnson
Scott is an experienced patient advocate and communicator who has worked with a wide range of stakeholders across the international healthcare industry to develop effective strategies and programs for many audiences. He is a demonstrated thought leader whose expertise is recognized and sought worldwide. Today, he serves as a Senior Community Manager at Blue Circle Health, a nonprofit organization focused on care, education, and support for adults with type 1 diabetes, and he currently sits on the CBDCE Board of Directors. His accomplishments include launching mySugr in America and pioneering diabetes blogging (https://scottsdiabetes.com/), among other notable achievements. Scott has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1980.
Chelcie Rice
Chelcie Rice is a T1 diabetic for over 30 yrs. He is also a stand up comedian, speaker, writer and diabetes advocate. Earlier this year he introduced his podcast The Soul of Diabetes aimed at the members who live with diabetes.
Cherise Shockley
Cherise was diagnosed with LADA in June 2004. She is the creator of the Blue Fridays initiative and WOCDiabetes and the founder of the Diabetes Social Media Advocacy (#dsma). Cherise is the Community Manager at The diaTribe Foundation and a subject matter expert in diabetes social media, online communities, and peer support. In addition, she is a wife, mother, veteran, digital communication enthusiast, citizen researcher, and change agent.
Marilee Johnson
With a background in journalism and public relations, Marilee Johnson lives in Sterling, CO, where she is currently the tourism director for Logan County. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1989 as a 28-year-old. She uses a Tandem insulin pump and Dexcom CGM, and supports low-carb eating as a way to successfully manage blood sugars. Marilee has a spouse, two children and three grandsons.
David Padilla
David focuses on helping others understand that managing their diabetes can lead to an enjoyable lifestyle using the tools and resources available to people with diabetes. He likes helping others understands that there are alternatives that will help people with diabetes lead a much more enjoyable life, which almost always includes the support of family and friends throughout daily life. He likes learning how to use the resources available to people with diabetes to make their daily routines more pleasant and rewarding. Knowing that you are not alone and how much others are willing to help is a light that leads the way to a happier existence with diabetes. At 76 years of age, he looks forward to what the future will bring in new adventures and experiences for this person with diabetes! David has added focus to include those encountering prediabetes, and finds that the Dexcom Stelo changes the landscape significantly. As someone with T2D for 40+ years, and along side his wife who has prediabetes, they have significant insight and attitude changing strategies as they both move forward to aging with potential/actual diabetes.
Minnie Rodriguez
Minnie Rodriguez is originally from Brownsville, Texas, and is 7th of 8 siblings. She grew up traveling with her parents who were a migrant family and followed crops between S. Texas and the Colorado/Nebraska areas. She and her husband have made Phillips County, Colorado their home and have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Living with diabetes has been a learning experience and we continue to try and make changes that will benefit our family as a whole.
Kerri Sparling
Kerri Sparling is a writer, poet, and speaker who has dedicated her life to the power of the patient narrative. Since 2005, she has been a leading voice in the patient advocacy space, sharing her personal story of over 34 years with type 1 diabetes and helping share stories from others in the patient community. Kerri has worked to bolster the influence of patient stories in the healthcare space, from academic journals to keynote presentations around the world. She is best known for her work as a patient storyteller at SixUntilMe.com, and as author of Balancing Diabetes (2014) and the poetry anthology, Rage Bolus (2020).
