It all started with what seemed like a normal day at work. Mary Ceron, 57, wasn’t feeling great and stepped outside to rest in her car.
An hour later, she was found slumped over the steering wheel—gone.
No one in her family saw it coming.
Her younger brother David Ceron, now 48, still remembers that moment vividly.
“It was like a bomb went off in our family,” he said.
Mary wasn’t the first sibling they lost to type 2 diabetes.
Just a year earlier, their oldest brother Henry had passed away after years of struggling with complications from the disease.
The Quiet Crisis in McAllen, Texas
The Ceron family is from McAllen, a border town in Texas that’s known for a troubling title: America’s fattest city. Nearly 45% of adults there are obese, compared to 40% nationally.
But there’s another health issue quietly growing beneath the surface—diabetes.
David spoke to reporters about this hidden crisis and how it’s personally affected his family.
In McAllen’s Hidalgo County, nearly 1 in 5 people has been diagnosed with diabetes—well above the national average of 11.6%.
A Family Wrecked by Diabetes
All eight Ceron siblings have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
So far, three of them—Henry, Mary, and their sister Carmen—have died from it.
Among the surviving siblings, three have undergone amputations.
Two have lost their vision.
The disease is now affecting the next generation: two of the family’s 11 nieces and nephews have been diagnosed, including one whose eyesight is already failing.
Turning Pain Into Action
David himself is fighting the disease.
He’s made major lifestyle changes, including cutting out sugary drinks and walking 30 minutes a day at the local mall.
These steps have helped him drop from 245 lbs to 175 lbs.
In November, he plans to walk 250 miles from McAllen to San Antonio to raise awareness about diabetes and motivate others to move their bodies.
His daughter Hannah has been cheering him on, proud of the steps he’s taken to turn his life around.
Understanding Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes happens when the body stops responding properly to insulin, the hormone that helps manage blood sugar.
It’s often tied to diet, weight, and physical activity—but not always.
Even people who aren’t obese can develop it due to genetics or internal fat around organs.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications like nerve damage, vision loss, poor circulation, and even amputations.
Healthcare Challenges in the Region
One big hurdle in McAllen is access to healthcare.
While 92% of Americans have health insurance, only about 70% of McAllen residents do.
That means many can’t afford to see a doctor or buy the medications they need to manage their condition.
Mary, for instance, was prescribed a medication her insurance wouldn’t cover.
When David saw her shortly before her death, she was in tears—she couldn’t afford it and was losing hope.
“That was the only time I’ve seen someone truly give up in front of me,” David said.
A Vicious Cycle of Poverty and Diet
David recalled growing up in a one-room home with his eight siblings.
Money was tight, but they never went hungry.
Meals were heavy on tortillas, beans, and sugary drinks like Kool-Aid. Later, when the siblings began earning their own incomes, they indulged in fast food—pizza, burgers, and more.
Though none of them were morbidly obese, they all eventually became overweight.
And within ten years, every single sibling was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
A Look at the Bigger Picture
Across the U.S., about 38 million people have diabetes—over 90% of those cases are type 2.
Another 98 million adults have prediabetes, meaning their blood sugar levels are elevated but not quite in the danger zone yet.
In the Ceron family, some have tried to fight back.
They’ve changed their diets, walked more, and taken medications.
But challenges remain—especially when the Texas heat makes cooking difficult and the kids don’t want to eat salads.
Stories of Strength and Loss
Henry, once a fit soccer player, lost his battle with diabetes after an infection led to multiple amputations.
Despite being bedridden, David said Henry kept his spirits high, always asking others how they were doing.
Mary’s decline was quicker.
After her medication became unaffordable, she abandoned her prescribed diet and gave in to the disease.
Carmen, a hardworking ER nurse, managed her diabetes for 13 years but eventually lost her sight and mobility before passing away in 2014.
Now, Martha, another sister, is slowly losing her vision, too.
Signs of Hope for the Next Generation
David sees a silver lining in the family’s younger members.
Many are more conscious about health and quick to remind their parents to avoid sugary snacks.
McAllen, too, is trying to change.
The city hosts a marathon every year and is investing in walking and hiking trails.
Public health campaigns are gaining traction, but progress is slow.
Since 2010, obesity in the city has increased by 11%.
So What’s Next?
David is determined to keep fighting—not just for himself, but for his family and his community.
He hopes his story inspires others to take their health seriously and make changes before it’s too late.
The question remains: with so many lives already affected, how many more have to suffer before real change takes root?