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A mother-of-two with diabetes is calling for a costly but “life-changing” device, which helps her avoid finger-prick blood tests up to 15 times a day, to be made free to all islanders with the condition.
The calls come from islander Liz Freeman (45), who was diagnosed with ‘Type 1’ of the chronic and incurable condition aged just eight years old.
One of an estimated 400, her condition, which isn’t linked with weight or lifestyle choices, means that the body struggles to regulate blood sugar levels, as it provides little to no insulin. The auto-immune disease requires near-constant monitoring, as it can have serious implications if left unchecked.
But Liz says she has now found a device called ‘Libre’ that has taken the sting out of the monitoring process, and on World Diabetes Day has told Express that she’d like to see it made available for those who need it – or at least made exempt from GST.
Pictured: Thanks to her new monitor, Liz doesn't have to prick her finger to check her glucose levels anymore.
"You learn to live with it,” Liz explained of her condition. “It is not always easy but it hasn’t prevented me from doing anything. I have had two children - both pregnancies went well… You’ve just got to be prepared. I always carry jelly babies, bars, biscuits and such in case my levels drop. You just have to be sensible and test regularly.”
“Regularly” for Liz meant finger-prick tests of up to 15 times a day to monitor her glucose levels, as well as injecting insulin up to five times a day. Statistics say that a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of five will have had 23,000 insulin injections by the time they turns 18.
But this all changed when Liz found a continuous monitoring system also used by the Prime Minister, Theresa May.
It allows Liz to check her glucose levels in seconds by touching an electronic device to a sensor the size of a £2 coin on her right arm – a painless and inconspicuous procedure that Liz describes as “life-changing.”
Pictured: Liz touches a small monitor to the sensor on her right arm to check the glucose level in her blood.
“Before, if I was in a meeting and needed to check my levels, I would have to take my kit out, prick my finger… It wasn’t discreet at all. I would have had to explain why I was doing this and people were not always understanding. Now I can just take my device, put it to my arm and in seconds I know what’s happening… There is no more anxiety about having to do the test, I don’t have to explain anymore. It has considerably improved my quality of life.”
However, the cost of the kit - £160 to begin with and £58 for fortnightly sensor replacements – can be restrictive, and Social Security will not fund that cost.
Jersey’s only Diabetes charity, which currently funds Libre for 45 children at a cost of £20,000 per year, is trying to change that.
Charity Chairman Bill O’Brien said they’d like to see it introduced to around 200 islanders after assessment for suitability. “For the States it would be cost neutral compared to the funding of testing strips and needles for finger-prick tests,” he said.
Pictured: Social Security does not fund the purchase of the Libre monitor.
Diabetes Jersey also want Libre to be made exempt from GST so that patients don’t face additional costs when their online orders hit the £240 de minimis limit.
He said his pleas were turned down by the former Chief Minister and Health Minister, Senators Ian Gorst and Andrew Green. However, the charity has now met with new Social Security Minister Deputy Judy Martin.
“We are still waiting to see if our prayer is going to be answered but we felt that Deputy Martin was sympathetic of our arguments,” Mr O’Neill said.
In the meantime, the charity is focusing on offering a helping hand to people with diabetes and their loved ones, while Liz has set up a parent and child support group.
By sharing her story, she hopes to raise more awareness of the condition, as well as combating stereotypes and “ignorance.”
“Awareness hasn’t been much different in the past 30 years. I still get people who think it’s the same as Type 2 diabetes. They tell me ‘Oh you are not fat, you don’t look diabetic’ or ask if I just need to eat some sugar.”
Continuing these efforts, Diabetes Jersey will be offering free tests at the St. Helier and St. Peter between 10:00 and 16:00 today, and on the 19 and 26 November.
Those that want to access Liz’s support group can contact her on: 07797 725728.
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