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Montgomery County Spanish program spotlights diabetes prevention and Caseman Clinic's low‑cost services
Summary
On a recent edition of Sintonía, host Marcela Villagrán interviewed Dr. Lourdes Perry and Carmen Lesama of Caseman Clinic about diabetes risks, early detection and a 'Comida como medicina' produce‑voucher program for local Spanish‑speaking residents.
Marcela Villagrán, host of the Spanish‑language program Sintonía, dedicated a recent edition to diabetes prevention and community resources available to Montgomery County’s Hispanic residents. She introduced Dr. Lourdes Perry, a public‑health physician and Caseman Clinic board member, and Carmen Lesama, the clinic’s operations manager, who described medical care, nutrition support and enrollment details for a new food‑as‑medicine program.
Dr. Perry defined diabetes as a chronic disease that affects the body’s metabolism and explained the pancreas‑insulin‑glucose relationship. “La diabetes es una enfermedad crónica…la insulina es la hormona que nos va a permitir usar la glucosa,” she said, underscoring that family history and obesity raise risk and that some people have the disease without symptoms. She urged routine screening, noting simple tests such as blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C can detect diabetes or prediabetes early when lifestyle changes and treatment are most effective.
The interview detailed common warning signs listeners should not ignore, including excessive thirst, frequent urination, persistent fatigue, blurred vision and wounds that heal slowly. Dr. Perry also outlined major complications of uncontrolled diabetes — kidney failure, heart disease and stroke, diabetic neuropathy affecting the feet, vision problems and, in severe cases, amputations — and stressed routine foot care and primary‑care follow‑up.
Carmen Lesama described Caseman Clinic’s services and how residents can access care. The clinic is located at 9420 Key West Avenue, Suite 400, in Rockville and offers low‑cost primary care, on‑site laboratory services, podiatry, gynecology, behavioral‑health support, endocrinology and referral assistance for specialty care. Lesama said a large share of staff speak Spanish and the clinic provides interpreters when needed. She said the clinic is not free but operates on reduced fees intended to be affordable for local residents.
Caseman’s Comida como medicina (Food as Medicine) program pairs nutrition education with produce vouchers redeemable at local partner outlets. Lesama said participants receive nutrition instruction and cooking classes alongside clinical monitoring. The program details announced on the show include a cap of 48 participant slots, two clinic visits with laboratory monitoring, five nutrition classes (attending at least four earns a $100 supermarket gift card) and eligibility for households with a chronic condition such as diabetes and at least one child under 18 living at home.
Lesama provided enrollment instructions and contact information: residents can call 301‑917‑6800 or visit the clinic in person; staff will ask for photo identification, proof of Montgomery County residence (other residents can enroll but services may be limited) and income verification or a supporting letter if someone assists with living costs.
The program closed with a reminder to listeners that prevention matters and that local resources are available in Spanish. “Si usted necesita la atención médica, la obtendrá,” Lesama said, and the host encouraged listeners to share the information with family and neighbors.
