How a biowearable gave one man greater confidence in diabetes care

(BPT) - Erik Lofstrand never imagined a routine checkup would alter the course of his life. After learning he had Type 2 diabetes, he suddenly found himself facing a condition that required major changes.

"I went through all stages of grief," Erik said. "At first, I was in denial. I thought if I exercised more and ate healthier, it would just go away."

He did make healthier choices, but managing his glucose still felt uncertain. Fingersticks gave him only brief snapshots, leaving him without a full picture of how everyday decisions affected his levels.

"I didn't want to guess — I wanted information I could actually use," Erik said.

Frustrated that diet and exercise alone were not answering his questions, Erik began looking for technology that could help. As someone who uses technology in many parts of his life and work, he researched continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs.

As he learned more, Erik realized he would need a prescription and a discussion with his doctor to find out whether a CGM made sense for him. With that knowledge, he was able to have a focused, informed conversation about his goals and diabetes care. Together, they decided Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor was a strong choice, giving him real-time glucose tracking and insight into how food, activity and daily habits influenced his levels.

By taking the initiative to ask about CGM technology, Erik became an active participant in his care and entered a more collaborative conversation with his doctor. His experience points to a common obstacle: research shows that one in five people living with diabetes feel they need their doctor to suggest or recommend new tools, rather than feeling able to bring up those options themselves¹.

What is a CGM?

A continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, such as Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor, is a small, discreet device worn on the back of the upper arm that measures glucose continuously every minute, day and night². It sends readings to a compatible smartphone app³ or reader⁴, offering real-time information and trend data.

Instead of depending on a single reading from methods like fingersticks, a CGM gives a fuller view of how meals, activity and medication affect glucose over time.

Why switch to a CGM?

For Erik, seeing patterns instead of isolated numbers gave him the guidance he needed to make meaningful changes in his daily routine.

"Having access to this data is empowering. It allows me to manage my diabetes proactively and avoid challenges that could set my whole day off course," said Erik. "My CGM is a huge reason why I feel more confident and in control of my health."

Research continues to show the value of CGM technology. In a recent study, people with Type 2 diabetes using a CGM lowered their HbA1c, a key marker of blood sugar levels, by 0.6% more than those using traditional fingersticks and spent about 2.5 additional hours each day in a healthy glucose range⁶.

Like Erik, many people with diabetes find that continuous glucose data makes it easier to understand how food, activity and other daily habits affect their levels, supporting better-informed decisions⁵.

How to talk to your doctor about CGM

If you or someone you love is living with Type 2 diabetes, consider speaking with a doctor about available options and whether a CGM may be worth considering. If you're unsure how to begin the conversation, these tips may help:

1. Do your homework: Learn about available CGM options, including Abbott's Libre systems, so you can ask informed questions and understand how the technology works.
2. Learn how CGM works: Ask your doctor about the benefits CGMs provide and how they can help you better understand glucose patterns.
3. Share your goals: Talk with your doctor about what you want to achieve, whether that's understanding how food affects your glucose, reducing routine fingersticks or feeling more confident in daily habits.
4. Discuss your challenges: Be open about what is difficult in managing your glucose and ask about insurance coverage and available support programs.
5. Find the right fit together: Diabetes management is a team effort. Talk with your doctor about whether a CGM aligns with your needs, treatment goals and lifestyle.

For Erik, taking that first step to ask his doctor about a CGM changed the way he lives with diabetes.

"Talking to my doctor about a CGM was one of the best decisions I made after my diagnosis," Erik said. "I'm healthier now than I've ever been. You can't manage what you can't measure — data is power. The more you understand your diabetes, the more you can take charge of your life."

To learn more about CGMs and Abbott's Libre systems, click here.

The views expressed should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.

1. Data on file, Abbott Diabetes Care.
2. 60-minute warm-up required when applying the sensor.
3. The FreeStyle Libre systems apps are only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check our website for more information about device compatibility before using the apps. Use of the FreeStyle Libre systems apps may require registration with LibreView.
4. For U.S. residents - The FreeStyle Libre systems apps and the FreeStyle Libre systems readers have similar but not identical features. Fingersticks are required for treatment decisions when you see Check Blood Glucose symbol and when your glucose alarms and readings from the system do not match symptoms or expectations.
5. Fokkert, Marion, et al. "Improved Well-Being and Decreased Disease Burden After 1-Year Use of Flash Glucose Monitoring (FLARE-NL4)." BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care 7, no. 1 (2019): e000809. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2019-000809.
6. Wilmot EG. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(26)00076-8

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For U.S. residents - Important Safety Information Product for prescription only, for Important Safety Information please visit FreeStyleLibre.us.