Monterey County to open first pediatric diabetes clinic

The Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System is getting ready to open Monterey County’s first clinic offering specialized care for children diagnosed with diabetes.

The SVMHS said, 57 percent of the population in Monterey County has diabetes or pre-diabetes.

“According to the SEARCH for Diabetes 2012 Youth Study, 17,900 children and adolescents younger than age 20 had type 1 diabetes and 5,300 children and adolescents age 10 to 19 years of age had type 2 diabetes in the United States.”

Health officials said with the new Diabetes & Endocrine Center Pediatric Diabetes Clinic, local children will no longer have to travel to the Bay Area for pediatric diabetes specialized care.

The new Pediatric Diabetes Clinic opens February 2 inside the Diabetes & Endocrine Center located at 355 Abbott Street in Salinas.