On Friday, November 14, 2025, Trinidad and Tobago observes World Diabetes Day under the theme “Diabetes and well-being,” with a special focus on healthy, supportive workplaces. The message is simple: with the right care and support, people with diabetes can live well.
Why management matters (for everyone)
Diabetes can damage many parts of the body over time. While diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults, day-to-day management can dramatically lower risks and protect independence. For people who already live with blindness, the goal is not “preventing blindness”—it’s protecting overall health and quality of life. For people with visual impairment, good diabetes control can help preserve remaining sight and slow further damage.
Early checks change outcomes
Early diagnosis and routine follow-up make a real difference. Current diabetes guidelines recommend regular dilated eye examinations and structured foot and nerve checks. How often you need an eye exam depends on your history and control, but adults with diabetes should have comprehensive eye screening and repeat at intervals recommended by their clinician (often every 1–2 years when stable). These checks catch problems early when they are most treatable.
What works: proven
pillars of diabetes care
Decades of research show that keeping blood glucose closer to target lowers the risk of small-vessel damage (eyes, kidneys, nerves). In type 1 diabetes, intensive glucose control can lead to delayed onset and slowed progression of retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. In type 2 diabetes, better glucose control reduced microvascular complications, and long-term follow-up showed durable benefits (“legacy effect”). In plain terms: steady control now pays off for years to come.
Blood pressure management matters too, especially in type 2 diabetes, helping reduce the chance of diabetic retinopathy developing. Keeping cholesterol in check and not smoking further lowers vascular risks. Pair medical care with daily habits—wholesome meals, physical activity suited to your abilities, and good sleep—and you build a strong base for long, independent living.
If you have visual impairment, treatments can protect (and sometimes improve) sight.
For those with diabetic macular oedema or proliferative diabetic retinopathy, modern treatments can stabilise or improve vision. Anti-VEGF injections are now first-line for macular oedema and effective for proliferative disease; laser therapy (PRP) remains important in specific cases. The earlier these conditions are found and treated, the better the outcomes. Ask your eye-care team about options that fit your situation.
If you are already blind, manage diabetes to protect the rest of you.
For people who are blind, the priority is
whole-person health:
Heart & vessels: keep A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol in target.
Kidneys: do yearly kidney function tests; control sugar and pressure.
Nerves & feet: get regular foot checks; protect skin; wear safe footwear.
Mental well-being & work: diabetes care is easier with supportive workplaces and respectful care teams, exactly what this year’s World Diabetes Day theme emphasises.
Make care accessible so independence is possible. Accessible tools let blind and low-vision people self-manage confidently:
• Talking about blood glucose meters and accessible insulin pens.
• Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems that pair with smartphones and screen readers (Voiceover/Talkback), providing real-time readings and alerts.
Evidence shows CGM helps people adjust food, activity, and medication and can improve time-in-range and A1C, lightening the daily burden of diabetes. We encourage wider access and training so these tools are usable by everyone who needs them.
Affordability matters. Many blind citizens live on limited incomes; for someone on a $2,000 disability grant, supplies and sensors can be out of reach. TTBWA therefore calls on our partners, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, RHAs, pharmacies, and private sponsors to subsidize accessible meters, strips, and CGM; ensure clinics stock them; and provide training in accessible use. When tools are affordable and accessible, people manage better, and complications cost the nation far less.
Respectful care
is good care
How staff interact with blind patients matters:
• Speak directly to the person; introduce yourself and explain each step before touching or guiding.
• Offer information in accessible formats (large print, audio, Braille where possible).
• In clinics and workplaces, use clear signage, tactile cues, and audio announcements.
These simple steps build trust and keep people engaged in their care, key to better health.
Practical steps you
can take today
Know your numbers: check your blood sugar as advised; ask for your A1C result and what it means.
Keep moving: walking, swimming, or chair exercises all help.
Eat for stability: favour vegetables, lean proteins, beans/peas in moderate portions, healthy fats; cut sugary drinks.
Take meds as prescribed: never stop or change doses on your own.
Book your screenings: eyes, kidneys, feet, blood pressure, and lipids on schedule.
Ask for accessibility: tell your clinic what you need.
Lean on community: TTBWA peer groups, family, and faith communities can keep you motivated.
World Diabetes Day is not about fear; it’s about confidence, capability, and community. Whether you are sighted, visually impaired, or blind, you can take charge of diabetes with the right support. TTBWA stands ready to work with government, health professionals, employers, and civil society so that management is accessible, equipment is affordable, and care is respectful because well-being belongs to all of us.
This column is supplied in conjunction with the T&T Blind Welfare Association.
Headquarters: 118 Duke Street, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Email: ttbwa1914@gmail.com
Phone: (868) 624-4675
WhatsApp: (868) 395-3086
