Ellen: The FreeStyle Libre meant that I could scan myself whenever I wanted

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last April (2021) after weeks of fatigue and ongoing infections.

I ended up hospitalised and was motivated to learn about my care and get my sugars under control quickly, so that I could return to regular life and my career as a secondary school teacher.

Finger pricking was ok, but not very discrete, and I had to carefully pick when I tested, as it wasn’t easy to do so if I was teaching or exercising. Sport is a big part of my life and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to play to the level I enjoy with this newly diagnosed chronic disease.

As soon as I found out about FGM/CGM’s I wanted to know more and signed up to a training session through my diabetes nurse.

The FreeStyle Libre meant that I could scan myself whenever I wanted and has allowed me to have great control of blood sugar, while living a regular life and not having to go through the pain of drawing blood from my fingers multiple times a day.

I believe that FGM/CGM’s are life changing. I feel lucky to be in a position to pay for my own, but believe it’s inequitable that not everyone can access them due to the high cost and the fact they are self-funded.