The number of children diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise across the United States. Currently, about 364,000 children and adolescents are living with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Type 1 diabetes, sometimes known as juvenile diabetes, is most often diagnosed in children. It develops when the pancreas produces little to no insulin, preventing the body from effectively managing blood sugar. Currently, there is no known way to prevent this condition.
Meanwhile, type 2 diabetes develops gradually when the body stops using insulin effectively. As a result, glucose isn’t absorbed properly by the cells and begins to build up in the bloodstream.
Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can often be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices.
Unfortunately, the chronic condition, once seen primarily in middle or late adulthood, has doubled since 2002, according to the CDC. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases increased by an additional 62% to 77%, with disproportionately higher rates among Black, Hispanic and Native American youth.
“The increase we’re observing among children is driven in part by modern environments that make sustaining healthy choices increasingly difficult,” says Santos Cantu, MD, a pediatric and emergency medicine specialist who serves as the medical director of the South Texas Health System (STHS) Children’s emergency department. “Limited physical activity, increased screen time and easy access to high-calorie, low-nutrition foods all contribute to earlier onset of risk factors like obesity. When those habits take hold at an early age, they dramatically increase their chances of developing type 2 diabetes far earlier than previous generations.”
To educate children about the dangers of diabetes and empower them to adopt healthy habits that can help prevent or delay the onset of the chronic condition, South Texas Health System (STHS) partnered with Prominence Health to host its annual Prevent, Treat & Beat Diabetes Symposium for Kids on Friday, March 27, 2026. Held at the South Texas College (STC) Health Science Professions Campus in McAllen, the day-long event welcomed nearly 100 elementary students from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD.
“Diabetes has reached crisis levels in the Rio Grande Valley, affecting an estimated 42% of the population across the four-county region. What’s even more troubling is that, because kids today are getting less physical activity and facing higher rates of obesity, we’re now seeing this disease affect our youngest residents,” says Tom Castañeda, System Director of Marketing & Public Relations, STHS. “This symposium is one of the ways we’re stepping in early, helping kids understand the real risks of diabetes and giving them the tools to make healthier choices now, so they can protect their health well into the future.”
The symposium included age-appropriate, interactive diabetes education led by local health professionals, child-friendly exercise demonstrations from the STHS Rehabilitation Services team and STC Occupational Therapy students, healthy eating presentations by the STHS McAllen Dietary Department and mental health–focused activities facilitated by STHS Behavioral.
By promoting healthy living, we’re empowering kids to make informed choices about nutrition and physical activity, choices that can significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” says Castañeda. “But that’s not all… The kids who participated in this event will become advocates for healthier habits at home, encouraging their parents to adopt lifestyle changes that support long-term well-being.”
To learn more about diabetes education at STHS, visit southtexashealthsystem.com.
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first dedicated children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
About Prominence Health
Prominence Health began in 1993 as a health maintenance organization (HMO) and became of a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) in 2014. They provide coverage to more than 60,000 fully insured, self-funded and Medicare Advantage members throughout Nevada and parts of Texas. Prominence operates seven Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in California, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Washington D.C., which are managed care systems that benefit communities by providing coordinated, high-quality care to Medicare patients. For more information about Prominence Health, visit ProminenceHealthPlan.com or ProminenceMedicare.com.
