Friday, February 6 is National Wear Red Day. It’s a reminder that heart disease remains one of the leading health threats for women.
But what often gets less attention is how closely heart health is tied to prevention, especially when it comes to prediabetes and diabetes. Prediabetes and diabetes are among the most preventable drivers of heart disease.
When blood sugar remains elevated over time, it damages blood vessels, increases inflammation, and raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. Preventing diabetes is not only about avoiding a chronic condition. It’s one of the most important upstream strategies for protecting heart health in the first place.
Across Texas, too many families face barriers that make prevention harder, including limited access to healthy food, safe places to be active, affordable health care, and early screening. Addressing these non-medical drivers of health, alongside expanding prevention and treatment, is essential to reducing both diabetes and heart disease before they take hold.
On National Wear Red Day, the message is clear. Protecting heart health starts long before a cardiac event. Prevention matters. Early action matters. And investing in diabetes prevention is one of the strongest steps we can take to build healthier communities across Texas.
