Texas Diabetes Council's New Appointments: What It Means For You

Texas is staring down a health crisis that’s been brewing for decades. Over 3.1 million adults in the state live with diagnosed diabetes, a number that climbs by roughly 230,000 new cases each year. Governor Greg Abbott announced on April 9, 2025, the appointment of K. Renee’ Yarbrough-Yale and the reappointment of Dirrell Jones, Michael Kelly, and Jason Ryan to the Texas Diabetes Council, signaling a renewed effort to confront this escalating challenge. These appointees, pending Senate confirmation, will serve until February 1, 2031, bringing diverse expertise to a group tasked with shaping how Texas handles diabetes care and education.

The stakes are high. Diabetes doesn’t just affect individuals; it ripples through families, workplaces, and the healthcare system. With East Texas counties reporting prevalence rates above 14%, and costs soaring to $34 billion annually, the council’s work carries real-world weight. For readers unfamiliar with policy details, this isn’t about abstract debates, it’s about tangible outcomes: better access to tools like continuous glucose monitors, more education for patients and doctors, and fewer emergency room visits from preventable complications.

The council’s new and returning members bring a mix of hands-on and strategic experience. K. Renee’ Yarbrough-Yale coordinates inpatient diabetes programs at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, rooted in nursing and education with degrees from Texas Christian University. Dirrell Jones, a trial attorney from Farmers Branch, offers a legal perspective honed at Redeem Trial Attorneys, paired with a background in educational psychology from Baylor University. Michael Kelly, vice president at Paso del Norte Health Foundation in El Paso, focuses on community health initiatives, backed by a doctorate in health education from Texas A&M. Jason Ryan, an executive at CenterPoint Energy in Houston, rounds out the group with business and legal insights from The University of Texas.

Together, they’re charged with advising the Texas Legislature on policies to build a statewide system for diabetes education and treatment. Their resumes suggest a blend of frontline care, community outreach, and legislative know-how, but the real test lies in translating that into action. With diabetes hitting harder in places like the Texas-Mexico border, where socioeconomic hurdles loom large, their ability to bridge gaps in access and awareness will be key.

Diabetes isn’t a new problem in Texas, but its scale keeps growing. Back in 1983, the state set up the Texas Diabetes Council as the nation’s first interagency body focused on a chronic disease, a move that’s since shaped prevention and care efforts. Today, 13.2% of adults have the condition, and another 34% linger in prediabetes, often undiagnosed. The financial toll is staggering, $25 billion in direct medical costs alone, with Medicaid footing $6-8 billion of that bill each year. For the uninsured, about one in six Texans as of 2022, delayed care often means worse outcomes, like amputations or kidney failure.

Efforts to lighten that load have had mixed results. Programs like TX STRIDE tailor education to African American communities, showing promise in building resilience and self-management skills. Meanwhile, tech advances, think continuous glucose monitors or “smart” insulin pens, offer better control but stay out of reach for many due to cost. Advocates for expanding Medicaid argue it could cover over a million low-income residents, catching cases earlier. Yet rural areas, strapped for clinics and healthy food options, keep driving the epidemic forward.

State governments hold real sway in this fight, steering education, funding, and prevention. Texas has leaned into frameworks like the National Diabetes Prevention Program, nudging people toward healthier habits to cut type 2 diabetes risks. Legislative moves, such as House Bill 2677, push for broader Medicaid reimbursement for obesity and prevention programs, tackling root causes head-on. Telehealth’s rise has also opened doors, especially in far-flung counties where seeing a specialist used to mean a day-long trek.

Still, the hurdles are steep. Retention in these programs often falters when transportation or childcare falls through. Funding, too, remains a sticking point; sustaining initiatives long-term takes cash the state doesn’t always have. The council’s role here is to cut through the noise, offering data-driven advice to lawmakers. Past successes, like pushing for insulin co-pay caps at $25 a month, show what’s possible when policy aligns with need. Whether this refreshed lineup can deliver on that legacy is the question hanging in the air.

The Texas Diabetes Council’s latest appointments land at a pivotal moment. With prevalence creeping up and costs ballooning, their six-year terms will test how well expertise can translate into results. They’re not starting from scratch, the council’s track record includes expanding self-management education and forging ties with community groups. But the gap between what’s needed and what’s available, from advanced tech to basic care in rural spots, looms large. Their advice could shape everything from school nurse training to Medicaid rules, touching lives in ways that stats alone can’t capture.

For Texans new to this issue, it’s less about political chess and more about what hits home: a parent skipping meds because they can’t afford them, or a kid learning to manage a condition that came out of nowhere. The council’s work won’t erase diabetes overnight, but it could ease the strain on a state stretched thin. As they settle in, the focus stays on the human cost, and whether this team can turn the tide on a crisis that’s been simmering too long.