By Jennifer Boulton, mother and grandmother who lives with Type 2 diabetes

Disclaimer: The information provided is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional about your diabetes management. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.

22/07/2026
 

Early Appointments and Support

I was put on medication and given an appointment with the diabetes nurse at my surgery.

When I saw the diabetes nurse, she explained my medication and how it worked. She advised me to cut out sugar, eat a healthy diet, and exercise more. I was also given a finger prick blood glucose monitor and told to test twice a day.

I was offered a six-week course at my local hospital for people newly diagnosed with diabetes, which was designed to help me understand and manage my condition.

I did attend the course, but I found it was mainly an exercise class and an opportunity to talk to other people with diabetes and learn from their experiences.

Managing My Diabetes Over Time

I was asked to check my blood glucose twice a day, morning and evening, although I did not always manage this. I found it painful, and it made my fingers sore, as I couldn’t always get enough blood the first time and sometimes had to prick more than once.

Over the following years, I had appointments twice a year with my diabetes nurse. At these appointments, I had blood tests, and once a year I would be weighed, have my waist measured, and have a foot check. I also had annual eye screening.

Over time, there wasn’t much change in my HbA1c results or my weight, even though I was eating less and avoiding sugar. At one point, I was also doing aqua aerobics.

A Turning Point

In 2023, my HbA1c results were 73. By this time, I had changed GP surgery due to moving house. As my results were still high, I was referred to a Diabetes Specialist Nurse. She asked me to monitor my glucose levels for two weeks by finger pricking four times a day. I found this very painful and my fingers became sore, started to peel, and felt numb.

When I returned with my readings, we went through them together, discussing when they were higher than they should be. She was very understanding and not judgemental. She advised that I needed to start insulin in the evening and asked me to continue testing for another two weeks to see if it was helping.

After two weeks, we had a phone appointment to review my readings. My numbers had improved, and she asked me to do a finger prick before taking my insulin injection to help determine the correct dose.

This was a wake-up call for me. It was time to take control of my diabetes and take it more seriously.

Understanding My Glucose Levels

I was finding the finger pricking very difficult, especially as I wanted to understand how different foods affected my glucose levels.

I was testing before meals and two hours after eating, which made my fingers even more sore, but it seemed like the only way to understand what was happening.

After struggling both mentally and physically with finger pricking and not feeling in control, I decided to self-fund a FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor.^{^}

As I was retired and paying for the sensor myself, I initially used them every other month to manage the cost. However, from the very beginning, I could see my glucose levels in real time. The app^* is easy to use and understand, and you can set alarms for high and low readings.

Feeling in Control

The sensor helped me understand how different foods affected my glucose levels and allowed me to adjust my diet accordingly. I also realised that we are all different and what affects me may not affect someone else with Type 2 diabetes.

Very quickly, I began to see improvements in my glucose levels and started to lose weight. Seeing these changes made me decide it was worth continuing to self-fund the sensor more consistently, as I felt more in control of my diabetes.

Now, I log my readings every morning, before each meal, and before my evening insulin injection. I often check the app throughout the day to see how what I eat affects my glucose levels. I have learned a great deal about how food impacts my body and have adjusted my diet to suit me.

This has had a very positive impact on my life. I feel much more in control, and it has also improved my mental health, as I no longer have to do finger pricks.

Since using the Libre 2 system sensors, I have lost over a stone in weight, which has enabled me to become more active.

A Game Changer for People with Type 2 Diabetes

At my annual diabetes check-up in 2025, the nurse was very pleased with my results. My HbA1c had dropped to 50, and my weight had reduced by just over a stone.

I wish I’d had access to this technology years ago, as I now have a much better understanding of what is happening in my body.

I would like people with Type 2 diabetes to know that the sensor can be a real game changer. It allows you to understand what different foods do to your glucose levels in real time and helps you make changes that work for you.

I hope that by reading this, you realise you are not alone in your journey with diabetes. No one finds it easy, but with the right tools and support, it is possible to take control and make decisions that are right for you.

Jenny Boulton is a FreeStyle Libre Ambassador. All views are her own and not necessarily those of Abbott.