Texas Diabetes Council

The Texas Legislature established the Texas Diabetes Council in 1983. Since then, TDC members have worked with private and public healthcare organizations to promote diabetes prevention and awareness throughout the state. Texas Diabetes Council (TDC) addresses issues affecting people with diabetes in Texas. It advises the Texas Legislature on needed legislation to develop and maintain a statewide system of quality education services for all people with diabetes and health care professionals who offer diabetes treatment and education.   

The TDC is required to conduct an assessment of the state’s diabetes prevention and treatment programs. The TDC is required to use the results of the assessment to develop a prevention and treatment plan by November 1 of odd-numbered years. 

The current Texas Diabetes State Plan [pdf] shows priority areas that build on past accomplishments and use current national, state, and local efforts to improve diabetes education and management in Texas. Work in the state plan’s priority areas depends on the Legislature’s continued funding and support. 

The Texas Diabetes State Plan priority areas are:

• Increase transparency in insulin and drug pricing for diabetes treatments
• Reduce therapeutic interference in hospital settings
• Make telehealth and telemedicine permanent 
• Decrease identified health disparities for all persons with diabetes and obesity
• Expand the use of automated diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring* 

*Texas Diabetes Council supports continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) as a covered medical benefit, based on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) standards. CGM has been shown to be effective in children and adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. 

Council Statutory Authority  

Texas Statute: Health and Safety Code, Chapter 103, Texas Diabetes Council    
Texas Administrative Code: Title 25 Health Services, Part 9, Texas Diabetes Council     

Council Statements 

Vision: A Texas free of diabetes and its complications 
Mission: To effectively reduce the health and economic burdens of diabetes in Texas 
Position: Specific initiatives to improve outcomes and minimize barriers to impact diabetes care in Texas communities for improved delivery of care through system reforms that lead to increased access and high quality, affordable, effective, and efficient care for people with diabetes and coordination of State services.   

Join Our E-mail List     

Join our free email list. Subscribe to E-mail List You will receive periodic email messages from the DSHS Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. Messages include information about public meetings, quarterly Diabetes News You Can Use bulletin, and other related activities. Click the "Subscribe" button on the right to add your email address.  

TDC members, appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate, serve staggered, six-year terms. Three or four-member terms end on February 1 of each odd-numbered year. Read about the governor's appointments for more information about serving on councils and the appointment process.  

The TDC discusses a range of topics from glucose monitoring systems to disparities in health care. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) welcomes public comments on agenda items.  

Next TDC Public Meeting

Date: July 20, 2023
Time: 1 p.m.
Agenda: TBD
Location: 
Texas Department of State Health Services
Robert D. Moreton Building
M100, First Floor
1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78751

Workgroup Meetings

TDC Advocacy and Outreach Workgroup
Date: July 20, 2023, 
Time: 8:30-9:45 a.m.
Agenda: TBD

TDC Health Professionals and Outcomes Workgroup
Date: July 20, 2023
Time: 10-11:15 a.m.
Agenda: TBD

Future meeting dates, times, and/or locations are subject to change.

Sign up for DSHS Diabetes email updates to receive a notice about the next meeting and other diabetes-related information.