Texas Tech pitches community screening program to tackle diabetes, heart disease in Pecos area

Researchers from Texas Tech presented a community health screening program designed for rural West Texas communities in the Permian Basin, outlining door-to-door screening, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), Bluetooth blood-pressure cuffs, and data-driven follow-up to reduce premature deaths from diabetes, heart disease, stroke and COPD.

"In Crane we screened more than 50% of adults and many used CGM data to reduce hemoglobin A1C and avoid more intensive care," presenter Aram Zade told the council. The program offers free, anonymous screening and supplies under a grant arrangement, with local partnership models that the team says can be adapted to Pecos.

Council members welcomed the data-driven approach and asked how the program would operate locally; one council member raised concerns about persistent air- and water-pollution exposure from oil- and gas-industry activity and urged that environmental exposure questions and monitoring be included in screening protocols.

Texas Tech representatives said they would work with local leaders to select an appropriate launch site and to include community input on screening questions and monitoring priorities. Staff asked the presenters to identify space and timing for initial deployments and the council offered assistance finding central venues for screening days.