EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A $285,000 investment aimed at improving diabetes prevention and management in El Paso County will expand services for rural residents, pregnant women, and people with disabilities, according to the Paso del Norte Health Foundation.

The funding, awarded by Texas Mutual and its affiliate, Texicare, comes as diabetes rates in El Paso County continue to outpace state and national averages.

Foundation officials said 15.3% of adults in the county are living with diabetes, with even higher risks reported in rural communities where access to health care and education can be limited.

Under the initiative, several El Paso-area organizations will receive support to expand direct services.

The Texas A&M Colonias Program plans to increase outreach through community health workers in underserved areas, while the El Paso Center for Diabetes will provide nutrition counseling for women with gestational diabetes.

Other groups receiving support include Project Amistad, which will offer diabetes education tailored for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Project Vida, which will expand prevention programs focused on healthy lifestyles and reducing Type 2 diabetes risk.

The initiative will also fund bilingual educational videos through a collaboration between the Diabetes Alliance and the El Paso Center for Diabetes, as well as professional development opportunities for local health care teams through the annual “Faces of Diabetes” conference.

Paso del Norte Health Foundation CEO Tracy Yellen said the investment will help strengthen organizations already working directly in the community.

The funding is part of a broader $1 million statewide health care philanthropy effort supporting organizations focused on improving access to care and long-term health outcomes for working Texans and their families.

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