Significance. Healthcare organizations around the world have long been searching for the most effective way to control the course of such a severe chronic disease as diabetes. Despite significant advances in the diagnosis of this disease, a large number of serious complications still develop against its background, one of which is diabetic retinopathy. This microvascular disease often leads to disability of patients. Therefore, it is extremely important to determine the level of patient commitment to undergoing regular examinations by doctors of various specialties. For this purpose, a social portrait of the main contingent of patients with diabetes mellitus observed in various types of medical and preventive institutions was studied and formed. Materials and methods. The following research methods were used in the work: analytical, statistical (calculation of extensive indicators), sociological (anonymous survey of patients using questionnaires). A survey of patients with diabetes was conducted using the author's questionnaire of 40 questions, divided into 3 blocks. The total number of respondents was 400 people. Results. The conducted study made it possible to establish the main age categories for patients with type 1 (18 years old – 1 patient, 20-29 years old – 48, 30-39 years old – 11, 40-49 years old – 2) and type 2 (40-49 years old – 132 people, 50-59 years old – 65, 60-69 years old – 74, 70-79 years old – 62, 80-89 years old – 5) diabetes. Based on these data, the number of cases of disability among people of working age was established (with type 1 diabetes – 51 people (82.3% of the total number), with type 1 diabetes – 15 people (16.3%)). The study also found that the majority of respondents have higher education – 216 people (54.0%); 155 people (38.8%) have secondary special education; complete secondary education – 29 people (7.2%). Of all respondents, when initially diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, less than half (195 people – 48.8%) were immediately referred to ophthalmologists for consultation. At the same time, 22 patients (11.3%) were not explained why this consultation was necessary, 142 (72.8%) people visited an ophthalmologist shortly after being referred, 53 (27.2%) came only when eye complaints appeared. Conclusion. The study found that diabetes patients are mostly people of working age with higher education. At the same time, there is a high risk of disability among them, and many either do not seek advice from related specialists or do not attach importance to visiting doctors, most often due to the absence of complaints.