What does an average day look like for you?

check my blood glucose levels – rummaging

Living my best life

around in my bag, getting the meter set up, drawing blood from my finger – I just got out of the routine of doing it consistently. Overall, my diabetes management involved with type 1 diabetes a lot of guess work for me back then.

How have monitoring tools changed over the years?

After a period of denial during her teenage years, Vanessa Haydock, brand ambassador for FreeStyle Libre, Until four years ago, I’d only ever used a typical blood glucose meter.

Before receiving my diagnosis, I remember How is technology helping you drinking pints and pints of water and I just manage your diabetes? couldn’t quench my thirst. I also lost a lot The FreeStyle Libre system has been lifeof weight, I was tired and generally did not changing for me. Now I feel more in control feel well. I didn’t really understand what of my diabetes than I ever have. was going on back then. There’s a visual graphic display, which

What impact did your

diagnosis have I have a sensor on the makes it so much easier to understand the

on you and your family?

As a little girl, I didn’t really know any different, so, overall, it back of my upper arm that records my glucose levels continuously. impact of food, insulin dosages, and activity, which has increased my motivation had much more of an significantly. impact on my mum and dad. They needed My HbA1c level (a measure of an average to weigh out my food, work out my insulin blood glucose level across a three month dosages, administer my insulin, check my period) has improved significantly; I feel blood glucose levels and keep a close eye healthier and more in control than ever. on me. I remember that my mum even used I am now also more motivated to help to come into school every lunchtime break and inspire others living with diabetes. to give me my injections. Back then, as there wasn’t the technology there is now, my mum Would you change anything about would have to come into my room several your diabetes journey? times a night to check my blood glucose If I’d had access to a flash glucose technology levels to make sure they weren’t dropping when I was a teenager, I am sure my diabetes in my sleep. control and motivation would have been completely different. How did you cope with the condition It’s fantastic to see so many adults, P H OTO : V R A E P H OTO G R A P H Y as you grew up? The transition to adolescence was quite hard, as I had to gain independence controlling my diabetes. As a teenager I was a lot more in denial than I was as a child. I just wanted to do what my friends were doing and overall my motivation was very low. For example, it would take time to teenagers and children able to access them now through the NHS. Now I love showing my sensor off to people and I am not ashamed to do so, advocating for all of those living with type 1 diabetes. I always say that you’ve got to learn to own your diabetes; don’t let it own you.

Since I was introduced to flash glucose monitoring, I haven’t looked back. I have says this innovative glucose reader a sensor on the back of my upper arm that system technology is helping her records my glucose levels continuously. take control of her type 1 diabetes. I have access to a reader I can swipe over the sensor, as well as an app, meaning Do you remember being diagnosed? I can also swipe my phone over it, which Yes, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when then provides me with a glucose reading. I was just three and I remember it so clearly.

YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT LANCETS 1