Well. You know you make me wanna shout

Time to shout from the rooftops about my joy of using the FreeStyle Libre 2 Sensor by Abbott. It has completely revolutionised my type 1 diabetes care, and so had such a positive impact upon my life. If using this product has taught me one thing then it is to always embrace change, never fear it!

Waiting 120 seconds for a blood glucose reading

Hello, I am Andy, aged 47, from Manchester, England, and was diagnosed with type one diabetes when I was 17 years old. I can still clearly remember those very early days in hospital, where I practised injecting on an orange for a week (with a syringe) and it took 120 seconds to get a blood glucose reading. The latter used to feel like an eternity, but it was the latest technology we had back then.

My diabetes care became like a boring chore

After a short period of time after my diagnosis, the stark realisation hit me that I had type 1 diabetes for the rest of my life. I rebelled a bit if I am honest, about having to inject every day and constantly monitor my blood sugars wherever I went. On nights out at Uni with sugary sweets stuffed in all my pockets in case of a hypoglycaemic attack, I joked it made me look like blooming RoboCop.

I soon learnt doing vigorous exercise was a bit tricky.  This is because exercise sends your blood glucose levels down, hence more finger pricking to get blood for my blood glucose machine. I can remember (not happily either), a diabetic nurse once accuse me of getting ‘obsessed’ with doing my blood sugars (she had read I suffered with OCD), this made me feel so exasperated.

A born perfectionist

I admit though I am a born perfectionist in every aspect of my life, so later on this did extend itself to me frequently checking my blood sugars. I reckon on average I did it about 6 to 7 times-a-day, but this was too much I was told because the blood sticks were expensive (NHS). I just wanted great control of my diabetes, the best care I could give myself.

Blood everywhere … clothes, bedding and even walls

Eventually technology improved enough to get it that it only took five seconds to do your blood sugars.  However, it still meant pricking my finger/s, which meant I would inadvertently get blood on my clothes, bedding, and even home walls (long story ha ha). Last week I put on a pair of new white cords and was petrified I would ruin them with blood from my fingers after doing a test.

Resistant to change

Maybe it is the OCD in me, but as a general principle, I am not a fan of change in life. Therefore, when my diabetic nurse three weeks ago urged me to try the Libre 2 Sensor, I sat there nodding my head but in truth I was shaking it inside. ‘It is connected to your phone’ I was told, ‘it is much better’ I was told, ‘you will love it’ I was told.

A family friend

A week later I happened to get talking to a family friend, who told me her husband uses a FreeStyle Libre 2 Sensor and that it is brilliant. I started to listen with an open mind … ish, and she showed me on her phone how she too keeps an eye on his glucose levels via the app. She echoed the nurse’s comments that it will give me greater control, and so after a short holiday I decided I was going to give it a try.

Technophobe proof

I can work computers, I get them, but admittedly I am somewhat of a technophobe. Therefore, I was a bit concerned I would not understand how this small disc attached to my arm, would then translate my glucose levels to my phone.  I feared it all seemed rather fanciful, but my worries were greatly misplaced.

First, I downloaded the app on my phone.  Second, I then opened the box and followed the instructions of how to connect the sensor, then I placed it on the back of my left upper arm to attach it to myself. Imagine your arm is like the inside of a library book and you want it stamped to take it out to read, because this is how it felt upon pressing the sensor into my arm (yes, it did sting for about 5 very short seconds afterwards).

I looked at my phone and it informed me how it should start working in 60 minutes, lasting for 14 days. Hey presto, it started working after the 60 mins had elapsed and I was up and running. How would I cope with it though pinned to my arm 24/7 I wondered?

One of the best things to have ever happened to me

I am just eight days into using the Libre 2 sensor, and I can honestly declare using it is one of the best things to have ever happened to me. All my worries about it again were severely misplaced. It is waterproof (hardly noticed it in the shower), it feels really secure on my arm, and it has already given me much better glucose control.

I am lucky I guess to be able to tell physically when my levels are too high (over 13.0) or too low (under 4.5), but just in case I was not because not every diabetic is, then a warning flashes-up on my phone. You can also set it to an alarm and vibration warnings too if so desired.

No more, I cannot be bothered to prick my finger to do my blood sugars, because all I have to do now is to simply look at my phone for the reading. No more mithering whether or not I will have enough test strips to last me throughout the month. And, no more getting blood everywhere because it means no finger pricking is needed.

This all equates to better glucose monitoring, which therefore leads to better control, which subsequently then leads to less long-term health complications regarding type 1 diabetes.

I am now proud to wear my Libre Sensor 2

I feel that thankful to be able to use the Libre Sensor 2, that I have found myself looking at it with a sort of sense of pride. I was at the gym the other day and wanted people to see it on my arm. No, I am not an extreme narcissist, but rather one that wants to tell people just how much my life has now changed for the better.

What have you got to lose, try it

When it was first mentioned about me using a Libre Sensor 2, as stated, I came at it as a non-compliant sceptic. After just 8 days I have without doubt come full circle. I cannot imagine my life without it now.

If you are currently still a finger pricking type 1 diabetic like I once was, then I urge you to ask your GP or diabetic nurse can you try the Freestyle Libre 2 Sensor. Embrace change my friends, embrace better diabetes care, and ultimately embrace a BETTER WAY OF LIFE!