Diabetes is a serious health issue in McAllen and throughout Hidalgo County, Texas. Local data show a substantial prevalence of diagnosed diabetes and obesity among adults, while community assessments identify broader social and healthcare-access challenges.

But there is not one single factor explaining diabetes prevalence in McAllen.

Type 2 diabetes occurs due to a complex interaction of variables, including increased body weight, lack of physical activity, genetic predisposition, age, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, dietary patterns and other health conditions. 

Community environments can also affect the likelihood of developing diabetes, influencing physical activity levels, access to healthy foods and healthcare resources available to residents.

According to CDC PLACES data published by RGV Health Connect, 16.5% of McAllen’s adult population had been diagnosed with diabetes as of 2023, while 41.8% of McAllen adults were estimated to have obesity during the same period.

But these numbers do not indicate that obesity is the sole reason for diabetes in McAllen. They rather reflect the fact that both the conditions are serious public health problems in the local adult population.

So why is diabetes such an important concern in McAllen and Hidalgo County?

The answer involves several overlapping factors.

Table of Contents

• Why Diabetes Is a Major Health Concern in Brownsville
• What Local Data Show About Diabetes in Brownsville
• High Levels of Overweight, Obesity, and Metabolic Risk
• Physical Inactivity Can Increase Diabetes Risk
• Food Environment and Dietary Patterns Matter
• Socioeconomic Conditions Can Affect Diabetes Risk and Care
• Healthcare Access and Delayed Diagnosis Matter
• Family History and Genetics Also Play a Role
• Brownsville’s Demographics and Diabetes Risk
• Age and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
• How the Built Environment Can Influence Diabetes Risk
• Is Diabetes Actually Increasing in Brownsville?
• Why Brownsville’s Diabetes Problem Cannot Be Explained by One Factor
• What Can Brownsville Residents Do About Diabetes Risk?
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is the diabetes rate in Brownsville, Texas?
  • Why is diabetes so common in Brownsville?
  • Is diabetes actually increasing in Brownsville?
  • Does obesity increase the risk of type 2 diabetes?
  • Can physical inactivity increase diabetes risk?
  • Does family history increase the risk of diabetes?
  • Does access to healthcare affect diabetes diagnosis?
  • Where can Brownsville residents find diabetes resources?
• Bottom Line
• References

Diabetes Rates in McAllen, Texas

The most useful way to begin understanding the local diabetes burden is to look at the population level data first.

RGV Health Connect, using CDC PLACES data, reports that 16.5% of adults in McAllen had ever been diagnosed with diabetes in 2023. Its comparison value for the United States is 12.0%.

The measure is important to interpret correctly.

We are talking about adults who have ever been diagnosed with diabetes. This does not include every person who has diabetes because some people may have diabetes without knowing it. It also excludes women who were diagnosed with diabetes only during pregnancy.

The CDC’s PLACES program provides modeled estimates for counties, cities and other small geographic areas because we do not have direct health-survey estimates for every community. 

PLACES combines Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data with Census and other population information to generate local estimates.

So, we should view the McAllen figure as a population estimate, and not a diagnosis for every resident.

McAllen diabetes and obesity snapshot

The two numbers help explain why obesity and diabetes need to be taken into account together when it comes to the local health situation.

But here is an important distinction: correlation does not necessarily mean that one local statistic caused the other.

How Does McAllen Compare With the U.S.?

The 2023 CDC PLACES estimates for McAllen indicate higher percentages of diagnosed diabetes and obesity than the equivalent CDC U.S. comparisons reported by RGV Health Connect.

For Diagnosed diabetes:

McAllen: 16.5%

RGV comparison: 12.0%

For Adult obesity:

McAllen: 41.8%

RGV comparison: 32.8%

These differences make diabetes and obesity important local public-health issues.

That said, the numbers should not be used to suggest that any specific neighborhood, diet, occupation, or lifestyle is causing McAllen’s diabetes problem based on these statistics.

PLACES estimates are modeled rather than direct measurements of every resident, so they have some degree of statistical uncertainty.

The CDC notes that its methodology uses demographic and geographic information to generate these small-area estimates and it reports confidence intervals as a way to characterize that uncertainty.

For that reason, it is more appropriate to discuss associations rather than assume that one factor directly causes another.

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Risk in McAllen

Obesity is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

The CDC recognizes overweight and obesity as risk factors for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, while physical inactivity, family history, age, a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes and certain racial and ethnic backgrounds are also identified as risk factors.

McAllen’s estimated adult obesity prevalence of 41.8% in 2023 deserves attention.

However, it is too simplistic to claim:

Obesity causes all of McAllen’s diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is more complicated than that.

The condition develops when the body’s cells become less sensitive to insulin and the pancreas can eventually be unable to produce enough insulin to control blood glucose levels. Genetics, age, family history, body weight, physical activity and other factors can all contribute to risk.

Even for people who have overweight or obesity, modest weight loss can help to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The CDC also recommends regular physical activity and healthier eating patterns as important prevention strategies.

For a deeper explanation of the relationship between excess weight and diabetes, see our guide to obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Physical Activity and the Local Environment

Regular physical activity is another important element of diabetes prevention.

Insufficient physical activity is a recognized risk factor for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC. For people with prediabetes, the CDC recommends working toward at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, such as brisk walking.

Factors such as:

• access to safe places to walk,
• availability of recreational facilities,
• transportation patterns,
• work schedules,
• neighborhood design,
• weather conditions, and
• access to organized physical activity

can influence opportunities for exercise.

This does not necessarily mean that the built environment of McAllen causes diabetes. These conditions can make healthy behaviors harder or easier for certain populations.

It is important to distinguish between individual behavior and the community conditions that can influence that behavior.

When it comes to diabetes prevention, encouraging individuals to be physically active is important, but community conditions can also influence how easy or difficult that is.

Food Access, Diet and Diabetes Risk

Diet is another important factor in the diabetes picture.

The CDC promotes healthy eating as one of the lifestyle changes that can lower the risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

The discussion of food in McAllen and Hidalgo County requires greater nuance than just blaming residents for their diets.

The 2024 Hidalgo County Community Needs Assessment found that 19.0% of the county’s population was food insecure compared to 13.7% statewide. The report also estimated that 24.0% of children in Hidalgo County were food insecure.

The same assessment reported that:

28.54% of Hidalgo County households received SNAP benefits during 2018–2022.

157,179 low-income residents, or 35.75% of the low-income population, were classified as having low food access.

The county had a higher level of food insecurity and low food access than the statewide comparison reported in the assessment.

These statistics do not prove that food insecurity causes diabetes in a particular person.

They do show why food access is relevant when discussing population health in Hidalgo County.

People with difficulty consistently obtaining affordable, nutritious food may face additional challenges when trying to follow dietary recommendations.

That makes food access a community health issue as well as an individual health issue.

Income and Other Social Factors

Indirect effects of the economic environment on the risk of developing the disease should also be considered.

According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in McAllen was $61,579 in 2020-2024, and 20.0% of residents had an income below the poverty level.

For the entire county, the Census Bureau reports the following:

Median household income: $54,338

Per capita income: $23,117

Population below the poverty level: 24.2%

These figures describe the economic conditions of McAllen and Hidalgo County, but they do not establish that income or poverty directly causes diabetes.

Socioeconomic conditions can, however, influence several factors related to health, including access to nutritious food, transportation, healthcare and opportunities for physical activity.

For example, individuals’ income may affect their ability to:

• buy healthy food,
• have access to transportation,
• take time off from work,
• afford medical care and medications,
• engage in recreational activities,
• and deal with other chronic health problems

The Hidalgo County Community Needs Assessment also identified significant gaps in health insurance and access to health care.

The issue of medical risk factors cannot be considered without also considering relevant social and community conditions.

Hispanic/Latino Diabetes Risk in South Texas

The demographic characteristics of the Rio Grande Valley are also of interest.

The CDC cites Hispanic or Latino ethnicity as a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, along with overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, age, family history and history of gestational diabetes.

It is important to note that being Hispanic or Latino does not mean that a person will develop diabetes, and ethnicity alone does not determine an individual’s risk.

Diabetes risk reflects a combination of genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, behavioral and healthcare-related factors.

For McAllen, however, the context of discussing type 2 diabetes within the demographics of South Texas and the U.S.-Mexico border is crucial.

The Texas Department of State Health Services includes Hidalgo County in the category of “border counties,” and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Border Health Office designates the area covered by the Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Registry as Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties.

This emphasis on the Rio Grande Valley is also an indication that diabetes has been recognized as a border health priority for many years.

Healthcare Access and Diabetes Screening

Healthcare access is an additional consideration.

The Hidalgo County Community Needs Assessment describes the county as having substantial chronic-health needs, a high percentage of residents with no health insurance and lower healthcare access than both statewide and national rates.

Why does that affect the discussion on diabetes?

Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes can develop without obvious symptoms, particularly in their earlier stages.

The CDC notes that prediabetes can exist for years without obvious symptoms.

Testing can identify people with prediabetes, providing an opportunity to take steps to prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.

Regular medical care can help people manage blood glucose and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.

It is therefore reasonable to consider healthcare access and screening as factors in the regional diabetes issue.

Despite that, the available evidence does not support the claim that a particular percentage of McAllen residents have diabetes that has gone undiagnosed.

Such statistics can only be generated based on a similar local survey.

Does McAllen’s Heat Affect Physical Activity?

McAllen’s hot climate is another factor worth considering that should be described in a more careful manner.

The hot weather does not cause type 2 diabetes.

However, extreme heat can make outdoor physical activity uncomfortable or unsafe, particularly during the hottest part of the day.

This factor is also relevant because physical activity plays a key role in the prevention and management of diabetes.

The CDC warns that for people with diabetes, it may be dangerous to exercise outside when it is too hot and humid and suggests precaution measures for such cases.

The issue is not that people should not exercise, but they may need to adapt to these climate conditions by exercising indoors or choosing cooler times of day to go outside. People can still go outdoors and walk or do other forms of exercise if the temperature allows for it.

The main point is that extreme heat can limit opportunities for outdoor physical activity, but it should not be presented as a direct cause of type 2 diabetes.

What Is Being Done to Address Diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley?

Diabetes prevention and control is not a new priority in this region.

The UTRGV Border Health Office Diabetes Registry was created in response to a 1994 feasibility study that identified the need for a diabetes registry in the Rio Grande Valley. The registry serves Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties.

Its stated mission is to reduce the burden of diabetes and its complications through:

• surveillance,
• intervention,
• research

UTRGV also states that the program continues to engage in health fairs, elementary-school support and other community activities.

Texas Department of State Health Services also has a Border Health Office, which focuses on enhancing public health in the Texas-Mexico border region through data, communication, public-health initiatives and partnerships.

These programs are important because reducing the diabetes burden is more than just advising individuals to modify their behavior.

Public-health surveillance, screening, education, access to healthcare and community-based prevention all have a role to play.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Why are diabetes and obesity significant health concerns in McAllen, Texas?

There are likely multiple contributing factors. McAllen has a substantial prevalence of diagnosed diabetes and adult obesity, while Hidalgo County faces food-access, socioeconomic and healthcare-access challenges. Genetics, age, physical activity, body weight, diet and other factors can also influence an individual’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

2. How large is the diabetes rate in McAllen?

CDC PLACES data reported by RGV Health Connect estimates that 16.5% of McAllen adults had ever been diagnosed with diabetes in 2023. In parallel, the United States comparison shown by the same source accounted for 12.0%.

3. Is obesity a risk factor for developing diabetes in McAllen?

Obesity is indeed an established risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

McAllen’s estimated adult obesity prevalence rate was 41.8% as of 2023, per CDC PLACES data reported by RGV Health Connect. However, this does not mean that obesity is the sole explanation for the city’s diabetes prevalence. There are other factors that can influence the development of the disease, including family history, age, physical activity, ethnicity and others.

4. Are food-access issues in Hidalgo County a risk factor for developing diabetes?

Food access can influence the capacity of households to maintain healthy eating habits.

The 2024 Hidalgo County Community Needs Assessment reported that around 19.0% of the county’s population was food insecure and that 35.75% of its low-income population was classified as having low food access.

However, this county-level evidence does not establish that food insecurity directly caused diabetes in individual residents.

5. Is physical inactivity a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes?

Physical inactivity is indeed a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.

According to the CDC, inadequate physical activity is classified as a risk factor for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Regular physical activity improves the body’s ability to use insulin and is an important part of diabetes prevention.

6. Why is diabetes such a widespread concern in the Rio Grande Valley?

The Rio Grande Valley has had a long-standing focus on diabetes prevention, surveillance and education. The UTRGV’s Diabetes Registry covers Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties and has operated in the region since the 1990s.

7. Is it possible to prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes?

According to the CDC, type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed for many people at risk. The agency recommends eating healthy, being physically active and losing a modest amount of weight when someone has overweight.

People with risk factors should speak with a healthcare professional about appropriate screening and prevention options. If you are considering supplements, our guide explains how to choose a safe dietary supplement for diabetes.

For another look at diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley, see our article on diabetes in Brownsville and Cameron County, Texas.

Bottom Line

Why is diabetes increasing in McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas?

There is no single explanation. McAllen has a substantial prevalence of diagnosed diabetes and obesity, while Hidalgo County also faces challenges involving food insecurity, socioeconomic conditions and healthcare access. 

Physical activity, diet, body weight, family history, age and other individual factors can influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Community conditions can influence access to healthy food, opportunities for physical activity and preventive healthcare, while individual biological and lifestyle factors also play an important role.

For McAllen residents concerned about diabetes, evidence-based prevention remains important: eat a healthy diet, stay physically active, work toward a healthy weight when appropriate, and discuss appropriate diabetes screening with a healthcare professional.

Diabetes prevention should not be reduced to a single food, supplement or “metabolism booster.” Sustainable lifestyle changes and appropriate medical care remain the foundation of diabetes prevention and management.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Diabetes Risk Factors
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Type 2 Diabetes
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — PLACES: Local Data for Better Health
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — PLACES Methodology
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — PLACES Frequently Asked Questions
7. RGV Health Connect — Adults with Diabetes in McAllen
   RGV Health Connect — Adults Who Are Obese in McAllen
8. Hidalgo County Community Service Agency — 2024 Community Needs Assessment Report
9. U.S. Census Bureau — QuickFacts: McAllen city, Texas
10. U.S. Census Bureau — QuickFacts: Hidalgo County, Texas
11. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley — Border Health Office Diabetes Registry
12. Texas Department of State Health Services — Border Health

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(Last Updated Date: September, 2026)