About
Health professionals, led by Nurse Debbie Jones, formed the Bermuda Diabetes Association (BDA) in 1979 in response to the alarming number of complications affecting people with diabetes in Bermuda. The steering committee felt that with greater knowledge the person with diabetes could be in a better position to manage the condition.
The main objective of the association is to provide knowledge to people with diabetes and healthcare providers.
BDA regularly sponsors programmes to update physicians, nurses and dieticians and one of its earliest objectives was to successfully lobby for and sponsor the opening of a diabetes education centre at the hospital. In 2007, BDA opened a pharmacy that supplies most people with diabetes on the island with their diabetes medical supplies.
BDA currently has 11 staff members, which include a community educator who takes diabetes education to schools and workplaces.
In 2020, BDA moved into its new home bringing all of its services, pharmacy and diabetes education, under one roof. The Client Assistance Program provides medication free of charge to people living with diabetes who are unable to afford health insurance or are underinsured. From 2021 to 2024, the Pharmacy has filled almost 3,000 prescriptions free of charge.
Since 2021, the Association has provided the Know Your medicine programme, which is available to everyone at no cost. Our Pharmacist Educator provides individualised structured review of medications and supplements to help people optimise the use of drugs, address side effects, and interactions. It’s an evidence-based programme that improves health outcomes. 260 people have benefited from the programme since it started.
BDA provides screenings for intermediate hyperglycaemia (prediabetes) and complications associated with diabetes, including retinopathy, chronic kidney disease and diabetes-related foot conditions. These screenings are offered free of charge to anyone who is at risk. In 2023, BDA held the first screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the island, using point of care technology. By offering free screening to anyone at risk, BDA is helping to increase the number of people who are diagnosed in the early stages, when lifestyle and medication can change the trajectory of the disease, thus avoiding or delaying the need for dialysis or transplant.
In 2024, the Association launched a peer support group which meets every second week and monthly cooking classes to encourage healthier meal preparation.
Main Focus
- Promote awareness about signs, symptoms & treatment of diabetes
- Support people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Reduce the incidence of diabetes complications
- Educate about healthy lifestyles for prevention and management of diabetes
- Provide free medicine to people with diabetes who are financially disadvantaged
Activities
- Public diabetes screenings
- Sponsored workshops for healthcare professionals
- An annual grant for further education in diabetes care
- Web based newsletter/updates
- Import of medication and blood glucose test strips
- Teaching of use of glucose monitors and administration of insulin
- Classes on how to use CGM
- Nutrition classes at lunch time
- Diabetes Reversal/Rewind classes
- Sponsoring children to attend diabetes camp
- Sponsorship of guest speakers to lecture at physician clinical meetings and at general public meetings
Message from the President
The International Diabetes Federation is instrumental in bringing together members to share best practice and learn from another. The Bermuda Diabetes Association is grateful to IDF for the many services, including webinars, that it provides throughout the year. World Diabetes Day unites the diabetes world and reinforces the message that together we are stronger.