The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system is designed to liberate patients suffering from type 1 diabetes from the hassles of glucose monitoring.
Around 40,000 people in the U.K suffer from type 1 diabetes through no fault of their own and as a consequence have to prick their finger multiple times a day. With this incredible piece of equipment patients are not required to put themselves through pain and are able to simply scan a sensor that attaches to their arm. The device also identifies the direction in which the blood glucose is heading towards and aids patients in preventing their sugar levels going too high or dropping too low which could result in a diabetic coma which is a life threatening complication.
Unfortunately, this device only lasts for two weeks and is priced at around £50 a piece...this is an extortionate amount to pay per month for something that for me, improves my both my physical and mental state. I cannot stress enough how big of an impact this tiny device has on my everyday life as a teen with type 1, dealing with a complete mix of emotions due to events such as exams and school work etc and then the additional stress of having to prick my finger seven times a day as well as five injections can all be too much a lot of the time. Only being able to afford one per month leaves myself in a horrible situation and there is an undeniable contrast between how I am with and without the sensor. I transform from an anxious, almost depressed seeming teen that lacks motivation and sleeps excessively to a complete different me that is able to confidently communicate with people, complete tasks without procrastination and think clearly without drowning in a pool of negative thoughts and feelings of stress.
This equipment allows me to feel in control of my diabetes and with it I no longer see managing my glucose levels as a wall but a hurdle that I am able to jump.
I understand the expense of the devise and the significant amount of funding that would have to be provided by the government but in the long run, the demand for glucose testing strips would decrease significantly which would save the goverment a large amount of money. Lastly, I do not believe that being able to maintain a good physical and mental state should be considered a luxury or should only being easily accessed by those who are more wealthy. At the end of the day, diabetes does not discriminate so neither should the resources available to us.
