Filmmaker draws awareness to diabetes

HARLINGEN — A San Antonio filmmaker paints a grim picture of diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley.

“Diabetes hits the Valley especially hard. The impact on the country’s entire health system could become catastrophic in the next few years,” filmmaker Michael Seringer said.

“Whether South Texas will be able to curb the diabetes boom before it overloads the system remains to be seen,” he said.

Seringer was scheduled to be in Harlingen on Saturday for a showing of his documentary “Diabetesville USA: Lessons from the Frontlines of the South Texas Diabetes Epidemic.” However, he was not able to attend because of an illness in the family.

The film tells the story of how diabetes kills, cripples and blinds thousands of residents of Harlingen, Brownsville, McAllen and other Valley cities, where it is estimated that more than 29 percent of the population has diabetes. Parts of the documentary were filmed in Cameron and Hidalgo counties. Read More