From Taking Control to Leading the Way: How One Couple Turned Their Health Journey into a Mission
When Diane Nelson Cooper and her husband Chris first signed up for Tomando Control de su Salud, they were looking for answers—tools to help manage their diabetes and take back control of their health.
What they found was so much more.
Tomando—Spanish for “taking control”—is a free, seven-week workshop offered by Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. Designed for individuals living with chronic health conditions like diabetes, the program teaches practical skills to manage symptoms, communicate with providers, and make lasting lifestyle changes. Available in both English and Spanish, the classes are offered virtually and at locations across Oregon and Washington.
Diane and Chris didn’t just attend the course—they embraced it.
“I was kind of hooked,” Diane remembers. The small lifestyle changes they made through Tomando began to add up. Diane reversed her diabetes. Chris significantly lowered his A1C. Together, they lost weight, built healthier habits, and—most importantly—gained a renewed sense of control over their lives.
But their story didn’t end there.
Inspired by their results, Diane and Chris became instructors for Tomando. Today, they teach at Salud Medical Center in Woodburn, Lancaster Family Health Center at Lancaster in Salem, and Rosewood Family Health Center in Portland. They also teach virtual classes, helping others across the region access the same life-changing information that transformed their own health.
“It’s hard work,” Diane says. “It took several years to get to the point we’re at now, but it helped us—and we try to relay that in the classes. We were able to do this.”
Their authenticity sets them apart. As instructors, they bring not only knowledge, but lived experience. “We give personal journey stories,” Diane explains. “If we’re talking about low blood sugar, we talk about our own low blood sugar moments. Our students know—we’re just like them.”
The classes aren’t just lectures—they’re communities. Participants share stories, tips, and encouragement. One day, it’s someone offering a clever way to sneak chia seeds into dessert. The next, it’s a participant realizing they can reduce medication or ask better questions at a doctor’s appointment.
“We’ve seen people go off insulin completely,” Diane says. “We’ve seen A1C levels improve, pounds come off, and people begin to build stronger relationships with their providers. That’s huge.”
Tomando Control de su Salud is available to Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic patients and their immediate family members. Classes meet once a week for seven weeks, with each session lasting about two hours. But what participants gain—confidence, clarity, connection—lasts much longer.
“If you want to change your health outcome,” Diane says, “take the class.” Their story is living proof: when people are empowered with the right tools and support, they don’t just manage chronic conditions—they thrive.