Mexico faces one of the highest burdens of diabetes globally, with prevalence in adults rising from 15% in 2015 to over 18% in recent years—equivalent to approximately 14.6 million people. Diabetes is a leading cause of death and a major driver of healthcare costs, placing significant pressure on public systems and households. Yet access to early detection, continuous monitoring, and effective disease management remains uneven, particularly for low- and middle-income populations, contributing to late diagnosis, poor long-term control, and preventable complications.
IDB Lab has helped address this challenge by supporting the growth of Clínicas del Azúcar (CdA), an innovative private provider of affordable specialized diabetes care in Mexico. By deploying the right instruments at key stages of the company’s development—from an initial results‑based grant to test inclusive delivery models to a loan financing its expansion when access to suitable capital was limited—IDB Lab has played a catalytic role in helping it scale impact sustainably.
An innovative model for accessible and continuous care
Clínicas del Azúcar, founded in Mexico in 2011, has an innovative, patient-centered model to deliver specialized diabetes care at scale. Its network of retail clinics operates as “one-stop shops,” offering integrated services through differentiated care pathways. For pre-diabetic patients, the model prioritizes early detection, behavior change, and prevention, while for those living with diabetes, it emphasizes continuous monitoring, disease control, and prevention of complications.
A core feature of the model is its intensive use of data and technology. CdA collects and analyzes over 1,200 data points per patient to deliver personalized care and proactively manage risk, including identifying patients most likely to abandon treatment. Together with its focus on both prevention and disease management, this data-driven approach enables intervention across the full spectrum of care, improving health outcomes while reducing long-term costs. The care provided by CdA is also very affordable, costing about 70% less than traditional private providers thanks to operational efficiencies and a membership-based model. Clinics are strategically located in accessible, high-traffic areas, reducing barriers for underserved populations.
A catalytic partnership to scale impact
Starting in 2016, IDB Lab has supported CdA through a continuum of instruments designed to strengthen impact and enable scale. Early support included technical assistance (ME-T1314) and a results-based financing grant (ME-G1013) to improve targeting and increase outreach to low-income populations. (See this project case study).
Building on this foundation, in 2018, IDB Lab approved a $2 million loan (ME-L1286) to support the company’s expansion and strengthen its use of technology. At the time, CdA was still consolidating its business model and had limited access to appropriate financing. IDB Lab’s support played a catalytic role, enabling the company to scale operations, expand geographically, and strengthen its service delivery model.
Scaling access while improving health outcomes
From 2019-2023, CdA significantly expanded its reach at a 31% compound annual growth rate, serving more than 340,000 patients. This growth was achieved despite external shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted the company to adapt its expansion strategy and accelerate the adoption of digital solutions, including virtual consultations.
The model demonstrated strong performance in improving disease control among patients with diabetes, while also supporting earlier engagement of at-risk populations. On average, 63% of patients achieved controlled blood glucose levels (A1C below 7.5%) after six months of treatment, exceeding targets. An impact evaluation found similarly large health effects, with blood sugar control increasing by more than two-thirds among diabetics in the sample. The evaluation suggests these gains were driven less by highly specialized interventions than by the model’s ability to provide continuous, accessible care through regular follow-ups and integrated service delivery. It also estimated that improved disease management could reduce diabetes-related complications by roughly one-third, helping ease pressure on the public health system by lowering demand for costly downstream care.
Building on early support from IDB Lab to strengthen its outreach to low-income populations, CdA significantly increased its penetration in these segments—from around 30% at the outset of the partnership in 2016 to more than 74% by 2023. As a result, approximately three-quarters of patients are from low- and middle-income segments, confirming the model’s ability to reach underserved populations at scale. CdA has continued to grow, expanding to more than 50 clinics in 22 states across Mexico and serving over 500,000 patients annually as of 2025, while also entering new markets.
Challenges and lessons
This experience highlights the potential of innovative private-sector models to address complex health challenges at scale when they are closely aligned with the needs of underserved populations. CdA’s integrated, data-driven approach combining prevention and disease management demonstrates that highly effective and cost-efficient care can be delivered for chronic conditions. It also highlights the importance of adaptability in scaling impact, as the company’s ability to adjust its operating model and incorporate digital solutions strengthened both resilience and long-term sustainability.
During the project period, CdA concentrated on deepening its penetration in the Mexican market, while also expanding to Texas to serve Latino populations. Although the model has not yet expanded to other LAC countries, the experience suggests potential relevance for other contexts with large underserved diabetic populations. More broadly, the case highlights that replicating this type of model may depend less on sophisticated medical infrastructure than on the ability to redesign chronic care around continuity, accessibility, and sustained patient engagement.