Gabrielle Lydia • T1D

Diabetes kit essentials, which a little sugar-free treat thrown in 🍓💙 As well as their diabetic-friendly mints, @peppersmithuk also do these delicious strawberry flavoured pastilles! Sweet cravings sorted with no sugar spikes to worry about mean these are a win for my T1D toolkit! #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #freestylelibre #libre #libre2 #teamfreestylelibre #sugarfree #diabeticfriendly #sugarfreelife #peppersmith #peppersmithuk #pocketapeppersmith

Seven years ago… before type 1. Before we knew what was heading our way. Back when you didn’t have to carry my low snacks, remind me to take my pain meds, or wake up to my low alarm in the middle of the night. Even if we didn't realise it, life was simpler then. And still, I know you wouldn’t change a thing (except, of course, wishing I didn’t have this condition). You love and support me through it all, without hesitation or complaint, and that means everything. Happy 7th wedding anniversary ❤️ #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #beyondtype1 #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #type1diabeteslookslikeme

Did you know there was a diabetic onboard the Titanic? 🖤 We booked tickets ages ago for the Titanic Exhibition in Manchester, which finally came around on Saturday and reminded me I needed to do this post. I’ve been fascinated by the Titanic since I was in high school, though I can’t quite explain why it captures me more than any other historical event. My two favourite cities, Belfast & Liverpool, have major connections to it - Liverpool as home to the White Star Line, and Belfast where Harland & Wolff designed and built the iconic ship. We’ve visited exhibitions in both cities, stayed in their Titanic Hotels - one of which is in the building that housed the original Harland & Wolff offices - and been onboard the Nomadic (the last surviving White Star Line ship, and tender to RMS Titanic). So you'd be forgiven for asking why we needed to visit the @whitestarheritage exhibition as well, but there's always something new to learn with each and every place or exhibit we go to. Everything, from the construction, to the disaster, right through to the discovery and condition of the wreck are captivating. The emotional side obviously lies in the stories of the people behind it. I learnt a while ago that Colonel Archibald Gracie IV - a first-class passenger and survivor of the sinking - was the only known diabetic on board the ship. He helped women and children into lifeboats, survived by clinging to an overturned collapsible lifeboat, and later wrote a first-hand account of that night. Gracie was a diagnosed diabetic for years before Titanic, and sadly passed away later that year in 1912 after falling into a diabetic coma - nine years before the discovery of insulin. His book was later published in 1913, and is definitely worth the read to get an insight into some personal experiences during the sinking. #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #thediscoveryofinsulin #titanic #thetitanic #titanicexhibition #whitestarheritage #colonelarchibaldgracie #archibaldgracie

Tried & tested 💚 I put @peppersmithuk’s peppermint gum to the ultimate T1D test — what happens to my blood sugar after chewing a couple of pieces? ✅ 100% sugar free. ✅ Sweetened with xylitol (diabetic-friendly). ✅ No spike in my CGM, or with a finger prick 📉 Honestly, it’s refreshing to find something minty that doesn’t come with a glucose rollercoaster. Safe to say these have made it into my diabetes bag for good. Have you tried sugar-free gum that actually tastes good? #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #freestylelibre #libre #libre2 #teamfreestylelibre #sugarfree #diabeticfriendly #sugarfreelife #bloodsugartest #peppersmith #peppersmithuk #pocketapeppersmith #peppersmithpartner

Living with type 1 diabetes means forever checking labels and thinking about how even the smallest snacks affect our blood sugar. So when I find products that are actually sugar-free and still taste good, it's worth sharing. @peppersmithuk kindly sent me some of their xylitol-sweetened gums, mints and pastilles to try! They’re 100% sugar free, plant-based, and surprisingly delicious 💚 Stay tuned for my honest thoughts as I test them out in everyday life. #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #freestylelibre #libre #libre2 #teamfreestylelibre #sugarfree #diabeticfriendly #sugarfreelife #peppersmith #peppersmithuk #pocketapeppersmith

Thank you for coming to my TED talk 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 These are examples of real comments I've come across on socials. I'm all for a little joke, and not usually one to call people out online - a lot of the time, it really isn't worth giving them the time of day. There's just so much more we need to do in terms of awareness and education for type 1 diabetes. The level of understanding when it comes to the differences between type 1 and type 2 is alarming. Even in relation to type 2 diabetes, some of the comments I've seen are disgusting - it isn't always black and white when it comes to health and people need to understand that. 🩷 #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #beyondtype1 #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #type1diabeticbarbie #t1dbarbie #type1barbie #barbie #breakthrought1d

Lift ensures I can fight those hypos and still experience all the things I love to do 🚀💚 Thanks for always being there, @liftglucoseuk! #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #beyondtype1 #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #lift #liftglucose #liftglucoseuk #glucose #glucosemanagement

Diabetes Awareness Week 🩸✨ You have to embrace it, or you're going to hate it. This is such a simple rule, but it helped me to realise that my outlook on my new condition needed to change - and I've reminded myself of it every day since. It’s hard to put into words how I felt when I was diagnosed with T1D: shocked, overwhelmed, confused, scared, resentful, isolated - and grieving for a life I once had, one with so few worries. I had to embrace, even learn to appreciate, the fact I was diabetic - or I’d never move past the initial hatred I had for this new life. I’d never begin to feel grateful, motivated, or unashamed. Believe me, there are times I get so bored of every extra thing we have to do each day, even tired. But I try to keep this in mind for whenever I need it, and hope it might help someone else who needs it too. 💙 #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #diabetesweek #diabetesawarenessweek

LIBRE USERS 📣 did you know that you can let Abbott know when your sensor isn't working correctly and get a replacement sent straight to your door? Before I could officially be prescribed the Libre by the NHS back in March 2023, I had to attend a group training session at a local health centre. I remember they advised that if our sensor ever failed, or just didn't work as it should, we needed to report it to Abbott directly and they would send out a replacement. It's taken until now for me to realise how simple this actually is, and to actually do it. Filling in a quick form, attaching a couple of screenshots from the Libre app to an email, and I had a new sensor within the week. Abbot also enclosed packaging for me to send back my faulty sensor for testing - this was completely free and easy to do - and, of course, helps them improve the technology in future. Just a quick note for anyone who wasn't sure how to go about it, or that this was even a thing; next time we get frustrated that our sensor isn't working, we need to make use of this service so diabetes tech can continue to be better. Other providers probably have a similar returns & replacement policy, so make sure to do a little research if you use other types of CGM 🫶🏼🩸 @freestylediabetes @abbottglobal #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #beyondtype1 #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #freestylelibre #libre #libre2 #teamfreestylelibre #abbott #abbottdiabetescare

Frances vs. T1D 🥊 * Note the mini cans of Coke on the bedside table from a nighttime hypo. 😅 It used to be just me against my own chronic illness; now this little furball has joined in the fight and it's... interesting. I've forgotten to take my insulin and neuropathy medication on multiple occasions, forgot to order my prescription and had to go without the Libre for a good couple of weeks now (so, back to finger pricking. Partly because my new pharmacy is shocking). I've had times where I've even forgotten to eat. The lack of sleep - which Chris has helped out with massively - the stress-induced highs, the biting my hands & feet, the countless more juice boxes and sweets, that she definitely thinks are hers when I open a packet; I'd do it all a thousand times over to watch her experience everything for the first time, to fake-chase her round the garden for the toy she thinks I'm trying to steal, or wait for her to fall asleep to old Irish folk songs 🍀 her favourite type of music. It's chaos, life is busier and more tiring than ever. I've no idea what I did with my time before, or how I ever said I had no time to do anything. But it's a good, rewarding kind of chaos and I wouldn't change it for the world. #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #puppy #puppies #puppiesofinstagram #bocker #bockersofinstagram

Something a little different to what I'd usually post on Easter Sunday ❤️ The usual pretty patch pic has been postponed this time round, as it's times like these, when spending time with our families and having a treat or two, that I feel we need to reflect on how fortunate we are to be able to do so. To appreciate the struggles of those who came before us, and the fact we no longer have to suffer in the same ways. Earlier this year, I came across the memoir of Ernest Sterzer; the only type 1 diabetic known to have survived the Holocaust. World War II has always been one of the most interesting events in history for me, but even more so now, since learning of Ernest's incredible story. To read his memoir, just Google 'Ernest Sterzer memoir' for the full version. #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #thediscoveryofinsulin #erneststerzer #ww2 #worldwartwo #holocaust #theholocaust

How does one manage their levels at the same time as caring for a little pup? 47% time in range this week with focusing all my energy on this little whirlwind, but I wouldn't change a thing 🌪️ We love you so much already, Frances 🐾🩷 #diabetes #type1diabetes #typeonediabetes #t1d #type1 #typeone #diabetic #type1diabetic #diabetesdiagnosis #diabetesuk #diabetesawareness #insulin #insulindependent #chronicillness #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #puppy #puppies #puppiesofinstagram #bocker #bockersofinstagram