February is Low Vision Awareness Month, an opportunity to highlight the experiences of people with low vision and advocate for greater accessibility across all aspects of life - including diabetes technology.
At Tidepool, making diabetes data accessible is at the heart of our mission. We believe that diabetes technology should work for everyone, including those with low vision. That’s why inclusive design and accessibility play a big role in how we build our tools.
Accessibility is about empowering people to engage with their diabetes data in ways that work for them. When technology is designed inclusively, it benefits not just those with specific needs but the entire community.
Low vision is a significant concern within the diabetes community. In 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 9.6 million people in the United States were living with diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that affects the small blood vessels in the eyes. Of these, approximately 1.84 million experienced vision-threatening stages of the disease.
Globally, the impact is equally profound. In 2020, an estimated 1.07 million people were blind due to diabetic retinopathy, with nearly 3.28 million experiencing moderate to severe vision loss.
Given these numbers, it's clear that accessible diabetes technology is not just beneficial but essential. We sat down with Shawn Foster, Quality Risk Management Engineer at Tidepool, to talk about accessibility in diabetes tech, the challenges people with low vision face, and what we’re doing to make sure Tidepool’s tools work for as many people as possible.
"People with diabetes have a higher risk of vision loss due to complications affecting small blood vessels. Knowing this, we have a responsibility to design technology that is accessible. But beyond that, accessibility is about equity - everyone should be able to use the tools they need to manage their health. At Tidepool, we’re committed to making diabetes data accessible and fighting the default of exclusion. Because inclusion isn’t an afterthought - it’s built into our mission."
"Low vision is a broad term that includes many different experiences. Some people struggle with low contrast; others lose central or peripheral vision. Some rely on screen readers or other assistive tools; some do not. Unfortunately, many diabetes devices aren’t designed with these needs in mind - small fonts, poor contrast, and a lack of audio output can make it difficult, or even impossible, to use them safely. That’s a huge problem because even a small mistake in dosing or interpreting data can have serious consequences."
"One of the biggest challenges is that accessibility tools only work if the underlying software is designed to support them. It’s quite a challenge for data visualization, especially. That’s why we are working on building a code that is structured in a way that allows assistive technology to function properly. Our design and development teams test our software to check how it works with accessibility tools, and we actively seek feedback from people with low vision to improve their experience."
"Tidepool Loop has been designed with accessibility in mind from the start. We’ve worked with the Accessible Insulin Pump Task Force before and made sure the technology works with VoiceOver, adjustable contrast, and zoom functions.
For the Tidepool Data Platform, we’re tackling accessibility improvements step by step. We’re updating color contrast, improving keyboard navigation so users don’t have to rely on a mouse, and ensuring compatibility with WCAG 2.2, the latest international accessibility guidelines. It’s an ongoing process, but we’re committed to making our tools work for as many people as possible."
"Interoperability is all about choice. When diabetes devices are truly interoperable, people can select the tools that best fit their needs. But if accessibility isn’t considered, that choice disappears. Someone with low vision should be able to choose a pump, CGM, or app that works for them - not just settle for whatever happens to be accessible. That’s why it’s so important for more companies to prioritize accessibility from the start."
"We check in with the Accessible Insulin Pump Task Force with the National Federation of the Blind. Additionally, our user research pool includes people with disabilities that we reach out to for real user feedback. Lastly, we follow international accessibility guidelines to make sure our tools are designed to work seamlessly with assistive technology."
"I’d love to see the diabetes industry adopt the concept of universal design, where products are built to work for as many people as possible - right from the start. Too often, accessibility is treated as an afterthought, but the reality is that everyone benefits from better, more inclusive design. Giving users more control over how they interact with their devices can help with better health outcomes and a more dignified, equitable experience."
For those interested in building accessible diabetes technology, check out our collection of tools we use to make our software as accessible as possible.
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