Blueprint for Comprehensive Diabetes Care in Student-Run Free Clinics: A Model for Accessible Health Care

Free medical clinics across the United States contribute to the broader health care safety net by offering primary care services to the 25.6 million uninsured and underinsured individuals seeking acute and chronic disease management ( 1, 2 ). Diabetes is particularly prevalent among these populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, between 2019 and 2021, the prevalence of diabetes in people with a family income-to-poverty ratio <100% was 13.1%, compared with 5.1% among those with a family income-to-poverty ratio ≥500% ( 3 ). The stark difference in diabetes prevalence between low- and high-income individuals emphasizes the need to improve equitable health outcomes ( 1 ).