Most new and exciting things very soon become the norm and lose that initial bright and shiny feel. For example, how long does your new phone stay your ‘new’ phone? I have to hold my hands up and admit, this was the case for me with Flash glucose monitoring and the FreeStyle Libre system and I’m not proud of it. It’s no exaggeration to say that the FreeStyle Libre system changed my life for the better and gave me control of my diabetes like never before. Sometimes we need a timely reminder of how fortunate we are.

The FreeStyle Libre system – a part of my everyday life

I feel I am one of the luckier Type 1s. I missed the tougher years in childhood where people really earn their stripes, being diagnosed at 19. I was in a professional sporting environment as a rugby player, something I’ve been doing now for 16 years, and so had incredible support available daily. It’s not always this easy and trust me, I am aware!

I was also recently offered the chance to try out the FreeStyle Libre 2 system, when I know there are some people still waiting on Flash technology to fill in the blanks between finger-prick testing^φ. As mentioned, the FreeStyle Libre system had become part of my everyday life and my diabetes management. The FreeStyle Libre 2 system quickly integrated itself in a similar way.

Alarms for added reassurance

With my low-carb lifestyle, I very rarely experience high glucose events (unless I’m on holiday and the Fish & Chips smell just too good) so I set the alarms for low warnings and went about my business as normal^◊. It definitely added a layer of comfort knowing that if my usual senses abandoned me, I would get an alert and it wasn’t too long before I had a couple of warnings. Nothing bad, just an early nudge – awesome, it’s got my back! A month or so later and the new FreeStyle Libre 2 system showed me why so many people living with diabetes were so excited about the alarm function.

My diabetes is relatively predictable. As mentioned, I eat low carb which I love and find it pays me back with nice smooth glucose levels. I like to stay fit and healthy which again is a big help with only needing small levels of insulin. The FreeStyle Libre and FreeStyle Libre 2 systems have given me incredible insight into my diabetes and how to best manage it. My routine is good and is working for me currently.

Not taking tech for granted

One morning before training, I was on my usual quick loop with the dog before I left for the day. I’d had my background injection, a nice black coffee and everything was looking good for a Tuesday morning. My glucose levels were ‘always’ stable in the mornings. Experience and data from the FreeStyle Libre 2 system backed this up^φ. Before that morning, I’d had only three hypos in my diabetic life where I’d needed help from someone else to get me through.

About five minutes into my morning stroll, my phone alerted me that my glucose levels were low and, on their way down. I felt fine but thought I’d turn around and head home anyway, much to the annoyance of our dog. A couple of dextrose tablets later and I was confident my correction would be more than sufficient – I’m very reactive to dextrose and I didn’t have any fast-acting insulin in my system.

Another alarm. Still going down, and fast. But “I feel fine,” I thought. Two more dextrose and I was sure I’d be through the roof in a few minutes but better to be safe and all that. Then the sweats started and that feeling in my stomach arrived that told me, you’re in for a bad one…

I got home and slumped in the hall, my wife helping me to take more dextrose. A whole packet and 15 minutes later, things picked back up to somewhere near normal levels again. Phew.

To this day, I don’t know what happened. I did nothing different (as far as I am aware). The huge spike after so many grams of dextrose never came either. Just bizarre…

The point is, the thing I had allowed myself to take for granted, the device that had given me control of my condition that I wouldn’t have dreamed of years before, probably got me back home to receive the help I needed that morning. The alarm was a surprise at the time, but I am very grateful for it now and try to remind myself regularly how fortunate I am.

The FreeStyle Libre system continues to evolve, and I can’t emphasise enough the value it is adding to my life. I’ll try not to take it for granted again.

Chris Pennell is a professional England rugby union player and a FreeStyle Libre Ambassador