With festival season in full swing, millions of us are soaking up the energy of this summer’s most unforgettable events. And for the 4 in 10 adults¹ navigating chronic health conditions like Type 2 diabetes, ME or Crohn’s - often invisible, yet always present - this time of year doesn’t just bring excitement, but also the challenge of managing health on the go.

As the number of people living with diabetes in the UK climbs beyond 5.8 million², Abbott’s latest data highlights a significant shift: over 200,000 more people with diabetes now rely on insulin than just three years ago³. It’s a reminder of how many are juggling vital health needs while embracing full social lives.

But here’s the truth - festival season belongs to everyone. With a bit of smart planning and support, people living with chronic conditions can show up, feel confident, and make lasting memories in 2025.

Diabetic Health Coach and FreeStyle Libre Ambassador Vanessa Haydock provides health and fitness advice for people living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and offers practical advice to help people with diabetes enjoy festival season to the max, based on her personal experience of living with diabetes and attending festivals:

Here are Vanessa’s Top Ten Tips for Festival Goers:

1. Plan ahead with festival organisers: Contact the festival in advance to explain your condition and request permission to bring in essential snacks, drinks, and medication. You can get a GP letter to help smooth this process.
   Vanessa says: “Once, my insulin was taken to the medical tent and I wasn’t allowed to keep it with me, which made me anxious. Now I always bring a GP letter and contact the festival in advance to explain my condition.”

2. Keep your medication accessible and safe: Use a cooling pouch to keep medicine, like insulin, at a safe temperature and carry your essentials in a small, secure bag. If needed, you can also request to keep medication in the fridge facilities in the medical tent.

3. Pack a medical kit, with back-ups: Bring essentials like glucose tablets, snacks, and any medication you may need to manage your condition, as well as back-ups.
   Vanessa says: “My go-to diabetes kit always includes glucose tablets, cereal bars, a spare insulin cartridge and insulin pen, spare sensors (I use FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus sensors) and GP letter.”

4. Stay hydrated and be mindful with alcohol: Hot weather and increased activity can raise your risk of dehydration and affect glucose levels. Bring a refillable water bottle and drink water or sugar-free drinks regularly. If you are drinking alcohol, monitor levels more frequently and let friends know how to help if needed.
   Vanessa says: “You can check food and drinks ahead of time by messaging the festival organisers or checking their website. I always make sure diet drinks are available, and if not, I bring my own.”

5. Avoid long gaps between meals and snack smart: For conditions like Type 2 diabetes, it’s important to think about food choices. Festival food can be high in carbohydrates, so try to choose high-protein options and bring well-balanced snacks to help maintain stable glucose levels.

6. Use tech to stay on track: Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices like Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus sensor can help people with diabetes to manage glucose levels with readings in real time, through an app on their phone⁴. Alarms⁵ can be set up for when readings are too high or too low, and some smartwatches helpfully mirror the notifications from the app⁶.
   Vanessa says: “Before using the FreeStyle Libre technology, I had to check my glucose levels using a finger prick. This was not only challenging in a festival environment but also meant I didn’t have continuous monitoring and had to rely on one reading at a time. With all the dancing and adrenaline, it was hard to tell what was going on. My CGM now helps me see the direction my glucose levels are going in and trends, not just snapshots.”

7. Help your friends help you: Let your friends know how to spot the signs of your condition, such as high or low glucose levels if you have diabetes, and what to do. You can also share your data with trusted friends and family via apps like LibreLinkUp⁷.
   Vanessa says: “I use my phone⁴ to monitor and often share my glucose data with my partner, via LibreLinkUp – an app designed to share glucose readings with friends and family – so they can see your levels. It’s really useful for my partner and also great with friends – especially if I’ve had a drink. A hypo can be mistaken for being tipsy, so having them see my levels helps them know when I need support. You can also let your friends know that it’s likely you may also need to leave abruptly to get food and that it’s not you being rude, but you’re just taking care of your glucose levels.”

8. Don’t be afraid to prioritise your health: Managing any condition in public is nothing to be embarrassed about. Be confident in checking your levels or taking medication when needed – your health comes first.
   Vanessa says: “People should feel empowered to check their glucose levels when needed. The most important thing is your health, and everyone deserves to enjoy a festival.”

9. Take breaks when needed: Festivals can be tiring – with the lack of sleep and walking more than usual between sets. Both of these can have an impact on glucose or energy levels. If you feel off, don’t push through. Step away to rest, eat, or check your blood glucose levels.

10. Know where to get help: Locate the medical tent early on and, if you have one, wear a medical ID wristband in case you’re separated from your group but need support.

Vanessa Haydock is a FreeStyle Libre Ambassador. The views expressed are her own and not necessarily those of Abbott.

Disclaimer: The information provided is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional about your diabetes management. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.

References
¹NHS England (2024). Health Survey for England, 2022, Part 2. Adult’s health. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-england/2022-part-2/adult-health#summary Accessed July 2025.
²Diabetes UK. How many people in the UK have diabetes? https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/about-the-charity/our-strategy/statistics#:~:text=Our%20data%20shows%20that%20more,by%20167%2C822%20from%202021%2D22. Accessed July 2025.
³Data on file, Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc.
⁴Glucose readings are automatically displayed in the FreeStyle LibreLink app only when your smartphone and sensor are connected and in range. 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. Sharing of glucose data requires registration with LibreView.
⁵Notifications will only be received when alarms are turned on and the sensor is within 20ft unobstructed of the reading device. You must have override do not disturb settings enabled to receive alarms and alerts on your smartphone.
⁶The 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. Sharing of glucose data requires registration with LibreView. To receive alarms from the FreeStyle LibreLink app on your smartwatch, alarms must be turned ON, your phone and smartwatch must be connected, and your devices configured to deliver notifications. Smartwatch notification mirroring on the FreeStyle LibreLink app has only been tested with certain smartwatches and operating systems. Please check the website for more information about smartwatch compatibility.
⁷The LibreLinkUp app is only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check www.librelinkup.com for more information about device compatibility before using the app. Use of LibreLinkUp requires registration with LibreView. The LibreLinkUp mobile app is not intended to be a primary glucose monitor: home users must consult their primary device(s) and consult a healthcare professional before making any medical interpretation and therapy adjustments from the information provided by the app.