Digital Health Tools Help Those Living With Diabetes

Sam, 65, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 25 years ago and constantly struggled to maintain his glucose levels. For those living with diabetes, monitoring their glucose is a critical way to reduce the risk of health complications such as vision loss, nerve damage and even heart disease and stroke.¹

Over time, Sam’s medications increased, while his energy levels decreased. As a busy father of three, working long hours at a desk job, he struggled to prioritize his health.

It wasn’t until recently when he was introduced to Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system^§ that he could finally, confidently take control of his diabetes, rather than the other way around.

For more than two decades, Sam’s diabetes management consisted of taking medication to eat the foods he loved. As his glucose levels climbed, so did his medication.

“At that time, I didn’t take it seriously,” said Sam. “I would take the medication like how I take my food – just take the medication and do what I would normally do. It wasn’t controlled.”

To Sam, the medication meant that “I could eat anything because there was a solution. There’s some medication for it.” There would be short periods of time when he would eat a balanced diet and exercise to try to maintain better glucose levels; however, his efforts never stuck. This was because monitoring his glucose didn’t just mean lifestyle changes, it also meant pricking his finger^¥ multiple times a day, which he found painful^≠. Therefore, Sam did not check his glucose levels regularly and the data he and his doctor were collecting was inconsistent.

When he made the switch to Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre system, Sam was able to view his levels anytime^†, anywhere^Ω. He could check and monitor his glucose as often as he liked – pain and hassle free^≠.

“So, whenever I ate, I would check. Every morning, evening, night – anytime. It’s not going to hurt me.” Being able to see the number in real-time allowed Sam to better understand how foods affected his body and what foods to avoid. It also showed him with real results how physical activity benefitted his glucose levels.

Today, Sam is an avid walker. It’s one daily activity that gets him moving and helps keep his levels down. He also relies on his wife to help him stay on track with healthy eating. They work together to come up with low-sugar solutions when planning out meals.

“I was so happy. I could watch as my levels lowered and evened out” Sam said. As a result, his doctor lowered his diabetes medications. And then again three months later. And again, six months later. “I’ve seen a direct connection between my glucose management and taking less medication. I am aiming to cut down even more medication at the next visit with my doctor.”

If you think the FreeStyle Libre or the new generation FreeStyle Libre 2 flash glucose monitoring systems^∞ may be right for you or your family, talk to your doctor or visit MyFreeStyle.ca

 

 

^{1 Grey, H. (2020, April 28). 5 Complications of Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/complications-uncontrolled-diabetes. This article was paid for by Abbott, a manufacturer of diabetes care products in Canada. This is an actual testimonial of a FreeStyle Libre system user and Abbott has consent to use their story. Consent is on file with Abbott. ADC-48617 ©2021 Abbott. FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are marks of Abbott. Product images are for illustrative purposes only. §The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system is indicated for measuring interstitial fluid glucose levels in adults aged 18 years and older with diabetes mellitus. Always read and follow the label/insert. ∞The FreeStyle Libre 2 flash glucose monitoring system is indicated for measuring interstitial fluid glucose levels in people aged 4 years and older with diabetes mellitus. Always read and follow the label/insert. † 60-minute warm-up required when applying the sensor. ¥ A finger prick test using a blood glucose meter is required during times of rapidly changing glucose levels when interstitial fluid glucose levels may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels or if hypoglycaemia or impending hypoglycaemia is reported by the system or when symptoms do not match the system readings. Ω Sensor is water resistant in up to 1 meter (3 feet) of water. Do not immerse longer than 30 minutes. Not to be used above 10,000 feet. ≠ Data on file, Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc.}