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Diabetes remains a significant global health concern in the United States. It’s one of the leading causes of death among Americans, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), affecting nearly 38 million adults. While the life-threatening condition most often develops in people older than 45, its frequency is increasing among young adults and children.

In the Rio Grande Valley, the incidence of diabetes is much higher. From 2012 to 2022, the chronic condition affected about 45% of seniors in the four-county region, per the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Untreated diabetes can lead to life-threatening diabetic emergencies like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS), both caused by dangerously high blood sugar levels. 

In 2020-2021, the emergency department visit rate by adults with diabetes nationwide was 72.2 visits per 1,000 adults, per the CDC, with the rate increasing with age.

Typically occurring rapidly and manifesting in less than 24 hours, a diabetic emergency can leave a person with considerable damage and may result in a diabetic coma and death if not treated immediately.

In the Rio Grande Valley, seniors experiencing diabetic emergencies can count on nationally recognized critical care at South Texas Health System McAllen and STHS Edinburg.

STHS McAllen and STHS Edinburg recently received a five-star rating for treatment of diabetic emergencies from Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. The achievement places both facilities among the upper echelon of hospitals for specialty care nationwide, reflecting STHS’ commitment to delivering exceptional care.

“This distinction displays a proven level of knowledge and demonstrates a desire for excellence when it comes to the treatment of a life-threatening condition that has reached epidemic proportions in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond,” says Emma Montes-Ewing, Chief Executive Officer, STHS McAllen. “South Texas Health System is committed to delivering quality, compassionate care to the patients who entrust us with their emergency medical care. Receiving this special recognition from Healthgrades for our treatment of diabetic emergencies underscores our dedication to positive patient outcomes.

As part of its 2025 hospital assessment, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine the top performers in specialty care. By offering easy access to objective performance measures, Healthgrades helps consumers find and select a hospital that excels in providing the care they need.

“This five-star rating is based on what matters most to our STHS facilities – positive patient outcomes,” says Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Edinburg and STHS Children’s. “This recognition from Healthgrades is important for us as a healthcare system because it allows patients to know that we’re providing the best possible care for a patient’s needs, mitigating risk from procedures and improving quality outcomes.”

Healthgrades’ 2025 analysis reveals if all hospitals as a group performed similarly to five-star hospitals during the 2021-2023 study period, on average, 224,958 lives could potentially have been saved, and 141,692 complications could potentially have been avoided.

“This five-star recognition is acknowledgment of South Texas Health System’s commitment to providing positive patient outcomes in critical care areas, like treatment of a diabetic emergency,” says Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of =Data Science at Healthgrades. “Seniors across the Rio Grande Valley can count on South Texas Health System for trusted expertise, unwavering dedication to excellence in healthcare that sets a high standard of care across the region.”