SHELTON, WA – Since February 2017, Carmen Eucker, RN, has been a source of patience, kindness and flexibility for both her coworkers at Mason Health, particularly in the Diabetes Wellness Center, and the patients she serves as a Certified Diabetes Care Education Specialist. Her expertise and knowledge in the field of diabetes care, and her respect for and attentiveness to patients is a big reason why her peers have named her the Employee of the Month for November 2023, which is also National Diabetes Month.

Eucker did not always know she wanted to enter into health care — as a high school student, she took surveys that indicated that she was a “caring, passionate and genuine individual,” Eucker recalled. The career surveys pointed her toward the field of medicine, so Eucker entered into a 10-month program to gain her certification to be a Licensed Practical Nurse. Eucker ended up working at Grays Harbor Community Hospital for 23 years. Later, she gained her Registered Nurse license from Chamberlain University College of Nursing, and went to work for Medtronic, a medical device company, in their Diabetes Division. She traveled throughout Washington and Oregon, visiting clinics and hospitals to present devices such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors to individuals and groups.

Eucker chose to pursue education in diabetes care because the disease is strong on both her maternal and paternal side of the family. Her brother developed Type 1 diabetes when he was 7, and Eucker developed Type 1 diabetes at 17.

“I did not take care of myself for the first three years after my diagnosis,” Eucker recalled. “I later had a role model in the ICU at Grays Harbor who told me I should see an endocrinologist. That helped me to get back on track. I decided that if I could make behavioral changes in myself, I could help others go through that as well.”

As a Certified Diabetes Care Education Specialist, Eucker would like people to know and understand their family history and to pay attention to pre-diabetes symptoms, such as high blood sugar.

“Prediabetes is preventable, and diabetes is manageable through healthy eating habits, weight reduction and increased physical activity,” she said. “These steps can lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. There are many tools available now days to assist you through your individual goals. Please do not hesitate to discuss it with you provider and or the Diabetes Wellness Center so that we can work with you and walk you through this journey.”

Eucker joined Mason Health in 2017, after a retiring RN working here encouraged her to apply.

“I was very excited because I’d worked in a rural community for a awhile, and this is really the field I enjoy working in,” she said. “My passion and interest to work with the diabetes population is very sincere regarding the challenges that occur in life with a new diagnosis. Baby steps lead patients to new journeys through glycemic control improvements and a better sustainable quality of life.”

When not working, Eucker and her husband, Donald Eucker, volunteer their time with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, which works to conserve and preserve wildlife and natural resources. Eucker serves as the Finance Chair, while her husband is the Donation Chair. They live in Aberdeen and enjoy traveling, waterskiing, jet-skiing, snow skiing, kayaking and gardening, as well as spending time with their two grandchildren in Olympia.

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County, is celebrating 55 years of serving patients and the community this year. Mason Health is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of three Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Awards and a Greening the OR Environmental Excellence Award. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masongeneral.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.