Tahvooche Saulque

Utu Utu Gwaitu Benton Paiute Tribe
Sacramento, California
30 years old
Diabetes Program Assistant, Chapa De Indian Health

My name is Tahvooche Saulque. I am Nuumu (Paiute) from the Utu Utu Gwaitu Benton Paiute Tribe in Benton, CA. I currently work for Chapa-De Indian Health Program as the Diabetes Program Assistant. I love what we do here at Chapa-De and I love helping our patients with their medical needs and getting them connected with the providers and resources in my department. I also perform Retinal Screens on our diabetic patients to detect or monitor for Diabetic Retinopathy. I have learned so much about Diabetes while working in my department, information I didn’t understand before is very clear to me now.

I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2013. Diabetes is very prevalent in my family. My parents and both of my oldest brothers have Diabetes. Growing up I would see my parents check their sugars but they would never talk about it. When I was told that I needed to take metformin I was so against taking medication thinking not me I won’t get it. I was not taking care of myself and after having my 2nd son I was diagnosed. I felt like I had failed and full of regret. I asked myself why didn’t I try harder. When I started at Chapa-De, I got the motivation to start taking care of myself and make it my goal to eat better and live a healthier lifestyle. I want to break the cycle of this disease because I have 4 children and I am teaching them the benefits of eating healthy and daily exercise to prevent Diabetes in their future.

I am excited to learn more at PATHSTAR: I have heard wonderful things from past participants. I am excited to share what I will learn at PATHSTAR with my family and my tribal communities and our patients here at Chapa-De Indian Health Program.