As 2025 gets underway, many New Year’s resolutions like eating healthier and exercising are already falling by the wayside. But this year, Texas lawmakers have the chance to set a powerful example by committing to a new resolution: making diabetes prevention a priority. With nearly half of Texas households affected by diabetes or prediabetes, it’s time to take bold steps that can truly make a difference for everyone in the state.
Episcopal Health Foundation’s (EHF) recent statewide survey reveals the staggering impact of Type-2 diabetes: two-thirds of Texans view it as a major problem. Diabetes increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Diabetes is also linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s. This relationship is so strong that some refer to Alzheimer’s as “Type 3 Diabetes”.
Despite all of these serious risks, nine out of 10 cases of diabetes are preventable. Shifting the focus to prevention is critical — treating diabetes after it starts is like trying to stop a wildfire with a garden hose.
The costs of treatment are immense. The bill for diabetes care for Texans on Medicaid alone is estimated to be between $6–$8 billion annually, accounting for up to 25% of Medicaid’s total medical benefits spending. The state’s financial burden is compounded by its uninsured population. Nearly five million Texans lack health insurance, and many uninsured who are struggling with diabetes are forced to forgo treatment entirely due to the rising costs of essential medications. In fact, EHF’s survey found that 71% of Texans living in households experiencing diabetes and prediabetes say they have skipped or postponed some sort of health care because of the cost. That includes check-ups, treatments, tests, and filling prescriptions.
That’s why prevention is the solution.
EHF’s survey shows that 66% of Texans support increasing affordable access to preventive care, such as routine screenings for prediabetes. Right now, many clinics fail to consistently test for prediabetes, and Medicaid lacks incentives to promote early detection. For too many Texans, the early warning signs of diabetes simply go unnoticed and undiagnosed.
EHF’s mission to improve “Health, Not Just Health Care” is centered on addressing factors and conditions outside the health care system that significantly influence a person’s overall health. Addressing these non-medical drivers of health — healthy food deserts, poverty, safe places to exercise, and other infrastructure gaps — is also essential to reducing new cases.
Texans overwhelmingly support a broad approach to prevention, including community programs, educational resources, and engagement from the food and health care industries. Government agencies, health insurers, and businesses must join this effort. Texas needs a bold strategy that prioritizes prevention at every level — from routine, Medicaid-supported screenings to community-wide efforts that address the underlying causes of diabetes.
Late last year, State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing that shined a bright light on the connection between food and chronic disease. This kind of important data provides the first step in painting the picture of the overall diabetes crisis in Texas. Changing the conversation from treatment to prevention creates a pathway to sustainable solutions.
Prevention isn’t just about health; it’s a smart financial investment. By prioritizing diabetes risk screenings, expanding affordable preventive care, and addressing non-medical root causes, Texas can empower its residents, reduce diabetes rates, and save billions in health care costs. Lawmakers have a chance to make diabetes prevention a lasting resolution for 2025 and ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for all of Texas.
