Walking the Line: How Social Forces Shape Diabetic Foot Outcomes in the Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Abstract

Diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley is highly prevalent, with nearly one-third of adults affected and rates of foot ulcers and amputations far exceeding state and national averages. Outcomes are strongly shaped by social drivers of health, including poverty, uninsurance, limited education, transportation barriers, and distance from specialty care, which delay treatment and increase complications. Living conditions in colonias further amplify risk, while gaps in social driver of health measurement hinder targeted interventions. Leveraging ZIP code-level data within electronic health records offers actionable pathways to reduce disparities, prevent amputations, and improve equity in care.