As part of the Long Story Short series, we are sharing the stories of people around the world who are living with type 2 diabetes. This is Nathalie’s story.
Meet Nathalie, an ex-maternity ward nurse from France, who now leads the local diabetes association. Nathalie draws on her personal journey living with type 2 diabetes and insulin management to educate others showing them how small lifestyle changes can lead to meaningful improvements.
Growing up in France, Nathalie learnt about type 2 diabetes and insulin management from her mother, who was diagnosed at 61.
Nathalie understood that genetics were a risk factor1 for type 2 diabetes, so she began to visit a doctor for blood sugar screenings as soon as she turned 40. This proactive approach led to her own diagnosis at 47, nearly 14 years earlier than her mother—allowing her to start treatment and manage her diabetes early on.
Inspiring change for people living with type 2 diabetes
Continuous diabetes education on management of diabetes, including treatment options and lifestyle choices – as well as timely discussions with her doctor – has been a big part of Nathalie’s journey.
Following her diagnosis, changing her lifestyle wasn’t easy. But eventually, a balanced diet became key to Nathalie’s day-to-day routine.
Nathalie was initially prescribed an oral treatment to manage her diabetes. However, 15 years after her diagnosis, Nathalie’s blood sugar levels began rising. At that point, she was told to switch to insulin therapy.
She worked with her diabetologist to adjust her insulin treatment to help better manage her type 2 diabetes and, as a result, Nathalie’s blood sugar levels were controlled.
Insulin therapy, a balanced diet and more physical activity2 helped Nathalie take care of her health.
To deepen her understanding of type 2 diabetes, Nathalie joined her local diabetes association and met others who had similar experiences. Her journey with type 2 diabetes, insulin therapy and her growing knowledge of management techniques led her to become the president of the association in 2015.
At the association, Nathalie meets a lot of people who are hesitant to start insulin therapy – this is not uncommon. Fear of injections and misconceptions around insulin can be a barrier to starting treatment3. Nathalie guides others through their type 2 diabetes management options and encourages that they have open conversations with their diabetologist.
She also teaches her three children about their genetic predisposition for type 2 diabetes, highlighting the importance of a healthy diet and exercise to maintain their blood sugar levels.
