20
LIVING
and had to rely on one reading at
a time. With all the dancing and
adrenaline, it was hard to tell what
was going on. My CGM now helps me
see the direction my glucose levels
are going in and trends, not just
snapshots."
Help your friends help you:
Let your friends know how to spot
the signs of your condition, such as
high or low glucose levels if you have
diabetes, and what to do. You can
also share your data with trusted
friends and family via apps like
LibreLinkUp7.
"I use my phone4 to monitor
and often share my glucose data
with my partner, via LibreLinkUp -
an app designed to share glucose
readings with friends and family - so
they can see your levels. It's really
useful for my partner and also great
with friends - especially if I've had
a drink. A hypo can be mistaken
for being tipsy, so having them see
my levels helps them know when I
need support. You can also let your
friends know that it's likely you may
also need to leave abruptly to get
food and that it's not you being rude,
but you're just taking care of your
glucose levels."
Don't be afraid to prioritise
your health:
Managing any condition in public is
nothing to be embarrassed about. Be
confident in checking your levels or
taking medication when needed -
your health comes first.
"People should feel empowered
to check their glucose levels when
needed. The most important thing is
your health, and everyone deserves
to enjoy a festival."
Take breaks when needed:
Festivals can be tiring - with the
lack of sleep and walking more than
usual between sets. Both of these can
have an impact on glucose or energy
levels. If you feel off, don't push
through. Step away to rest, eat, or
check your blood glucose levels.
Know where to get help:
Locate the medical tent early on and,
if you have one, wear a medical ID
wristband in case you're separated
from your group but need support.
Vanessa Haydock is a FreeStyle Libre
Ambassador. The views expressed
are her own and not necessarily
those of Abbott or Desang Diabetes
Magazine. If you recognise Haydock it
may be because she was interviewed
in a My Diabetes Kit interview in
this magazine in May 2021. This
information was supplied to us by
Abbott but it was not paid for.
For the full press release and
references, please email me at:
sue.marshall@desang.net