23
KIT
There is constant
information from
the Dexcom ONE+
but it's been a
game-changer
for me. I love it,
and I love that I'm
dancing again.
~ Ateh Jewel
feelings, a way to numb them out, like
any addiction. I never say that people
have a food problem, I say they have
a feelings problem. I knew I needed
to make some really big changes to
my life to regain my health."
As part of these changes, Jewel
has moved out of the city and into
the countryside where she can take
regular walks in fresh air. She's also a
member of a gym, swims, and admits,
"I'm a bit 'all or nothing'. I lost four
stone in as many months by giving
up sugar and gluten, moving about
more, went on Metformin while also
doing regular blood tests."
However, it was only this year
that she was invited to do a trial of
the Dexcom ONE+ aimed at people
with Type 2 diabetes. She says, "I
did use to resent doing finger-prick
blood tests. It always made me feel
that it was a reminder that I'd made
myself unwell, at least that was how
it seemed for a while. My diet and
how I'd taken my health for granted
did contribute to what was quite an
early diagnosis, in that I associated
it with older people. Turns out that
was another stereotype that's not
quite true. Type 2 is now affecting
all generations. The primary thing
that Dexcom ONE+ has helped me
to understand it what foods make
me feel good. If I'm a bit high, the
Dexcom app tells me and I can just
stop what I'm doing, put on some
tunes, and dance around for 20
minutes. Not only does that bring my
levels down, it makes me feel better
overall. It was due to Dexcom that my
'healing' really began."
A great tool
When I interviewed Jewel, she had
been on Dexcom ONE+ for several
months. I asked her how she dealt
with the sudden onslaught of blood
glucose information. "There is
constant information, it's true," she
said, "but I found it not only easy
to come to terms with it, but could
see how helpful it was to me, how
valuable in terms of my feeling better
about my diagnosis and seeing my
improved control. It's been a gamechanger
for me. I love it, and I love
that I'm dancing again."
Harking back to her own
background, her mother was from
Trinidad, and her father from Nigeria.
For all that she thinks her childhood
was not necessarily an easy one, she
has made a success of her life, having
a career as a writer and presenter
as well as recently launching her
own beauty brand, a multi-awardwinning inclusive
beauty brand with
her #blushofdreams, which launched
at Harrods last year. She says, "I am
making my dreams come true. I can
only do that by balancing the needs
of my mind, body and spirit."
I also asked how she felt about
wearing medical technology and
she responded, "I did come across
a lot of stigmatising, blaming talk
- the feeling was that I'd done this
to myself - all Type 2s had done it
to themselves through bad lifestyle
choices. That's neither accurate,
fair, or helpful. Plenty of people live
in some sort of existential pain -
finding life difficult and 'numbing'
themselves with food, or whatever.
Shame and guilt simply do not help
those individuals. With tools like
a Dexcom sensor we can try to
improve our blood glucose levels,
to heal ourselves so we can all feel
better. People's lives can be improved
by their own self-care and other
people's kindness and support.
"I'm really proud of my medtech.
It's a new world of wellness for me.
I'm proud to be taking charge of my
diabetes care, my health, my future
me… it's a badge of honour to wear
one. I've also found it to be a really
good conversation starter, especially
at the gym and when I go swimming.
People ask, 'what's that?'. I feel I can
now take pride in taking care of
myself and my body. Plus, it's so easy
and discreet. I indulge fairly often in
a decadent bubble bath, and it's in
there with me."
Taking care
Jewel's twin daughters are now
teenagers. "What I think they now
see, is a mum who is taking better
care of herself. I like that they see
me on the one hand doing less - I'm
around more, while on the other
hand I'm doing more - more selfcare,
more moving about in a fun
way. Any movement is good, for all
aspects of your mental and physical
health. Let's dance and celebrate our
lives!"
Further links and resources
www.atehjewelbeauty.com
As previously reported in this
magazine, Dexcom also recently
released a first-of-its kind report
that uncovers the behaviours and
preferences of not only people living
with type 2, but their caretakers and
healthcare practitioners too. Called
the Dexcom State of Type 2 Report,
it features findings and advice from
experts and can be found at Dexcom.
com/type2diabetesreport
Ateh Jewel wears the Dexcom
ONE+ the latest CGM sensor from
Dexcom. It's easy to use and was
specifically created to fit the needs of
people with Type 2.
www.dexcom.com/en-gb/T2D
www.atehjewelbeauty.com/