Hi! I’m Laura, 25 years old from Shropshire and I’ve been living with Type 1 diabetes since the age of thirteen.

At the start, diabetes was pretty tough to come to terms with - not just for me but for my family too. As an ‘only just’ teenager who didn’t want to be any different from my friends, multiple daily injections and glucose checks were a lot to get my head around.

Always something new

I’ve definitely come a long way since then. Diabetes has instilled a certain resilience in me that I’m not sure I would have without that diagnosis day back in 2008. Some days you really don’t feel like getting out of bed but there are always things which need to be done - especially when you grow up on a farm where there are always hundreds of hungry mouths to feed!

As with farming, diabetes is full on, unpredictable and a real challenge… you can have years and years of experience but there’s always something new around the corner.

Taking the guess work out of diabetes management

After twelve years of relentless finger pricking to check my blood glucose levels multiple times a day, I gave the FreeStyle Libre system a go earlier this year†. I’d been hesitant to try something different after so long, but it’s completely revolutionised how I manage my diabetes.

Instead of seeing a snapshot at one specific moment, I can now see how my sugars fluctuate when I’m running around on the farm all day ^φ. With so many early starts, the FreeStyle Libre system has been super helpful to view how my glucose levels are affected by the ‘dawn phenomenon’. I can now counteract this spike with insulin so I start my busy mornings feeling fresh.

Farming is incredibly ‘hands-on’ and when you’re out in the middle of a field with cows and sheep, there’s not always somewhere to wash your hands before finger pricking. This meant I would often guess what my blood glucose was rather than testing - which anyone who’s diabetic knows is never entirely accurate!

With the FreeStyle Libre system, I can scan within seconds using my phone^Δ, making it a lot easier to check how my sugar levels are doing.

A silent condition to be proud of

Living with Type 1 diabetes is a daily challenge, but I’ve learnt that coping with this silent condition is definitely something to be proud of. This positive mindset was instilled in me by my grandpa, who always reassured me that I could do anything I set my mind to - diabetic or not. I’m really proud to continue my grandpa’s legacy of writing a regular farming column with my Dad in our local newspaper, and I like to think he’d be proud too.

I’m so grateful for the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring technology and the hugely beneficial impact it’s had on my diabetes management. It’s hard to imagine life without my sensor now, and I’m more than happy to show it off!

Rather than seeing it as something to hide, I’ve learnt that facing diabetes is a huge accomplishment and I hope that by raising awareness, I can help empower others.

Laura Yates is a farmer, marketing professional and a FreeStyle Libre ambassador. You can follow Laura on Instagram @farminglifeoflaura