X Factor finalist and diabetes ambassador, Amelia Lily, has been seen showcasing her glucose sensor with pride this Halloween to show how far diabetes technology has come.
A series of photos of the singer, 29, who lives with Type 1 diabetes, shows her styled in elaborate costumes featuring spiders, pumpkins, and witches – all with her glucose sensor in pride of place on the back of her upper arm.
The singer, who has lived with the condition since the age of three, shares how her mother worried about her safety when she went trick-or-treating as a child.
Amelia wants her photos to raise awareness of how far diabetes technology has come – allowing people of any age to enjoy Halloween with a bit more freedom.
“Halloween is now my favourite time of the year, but as a child, it was a time when I was always reminded that I was different,” recalls Lily, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of three.
“People with diabetes need to carefully manage their glucose levels to make sure they don’t get too high or too low. As much as I wanted to go trick-or-treating with my friends, Halloween became a time of stress and worry for my mum.
“I’m so glad that today children living with diabetes can enjoy being children again, without being limited by their condition.
“I really hope these pictures inspire a new generation of children living with diabetes to be confident to be whoever they want to be this Halloween, and beyond.”
Diabetes is an increasingly common long-term condition in children and young people with an estimated 36,000 children living in the UK with the condition, and 90% of those being Type 1.
Today, children living with Type 1 diabetes, and their caregivers, are able to monitor glucose levels in real-time and receive automatic alerts* if they go too high or too low through technology such as Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre systems. This means that children who use technology like this can go trick-or-treating this Halloween with more control over their health – something which can provide peace of mind for parents at this time of year. Find out more about the system at freestyle.abbott
* Disclaimer: The FreeStyle LibreLink app is only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check the website for more information about device compatibility before using the app. Use of FreeStyle LibreLink may require registration with LibreView. Glucose readings are automatically displayed in the app only when the smartphone and sensor are connected and in range. A 60-minute warm-up is required when applying the sensor.