DRWF Women and Diabetes: Sarah Bool MP on type 1 diabetes diagnosis

"I didn't think anything would happen, then I got a telephone call two days later saying, “can you come in, because we need to run some tests. We think it could be type 2 diabetes”. That was a surprise enough. Once they did the testing, I went straight to hospital and the doctors said, "no, this is type 1 diabetes.

“My world flipped 100 degrees, but my family and everyone around me have been incredibly supportive. I've met the nicest community you can ever meet with in type 1 diabetes. I feel like I've been supported along the way, but oh my goodness, that was a world changing shock because we had no family history.”

DRWF: What is it like having a busy career as an MP living and working with type 1 diabetes?

Sarah: It has its challenges. Anyone living with type 1 diabetes knows that this is a 24-hour condition, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. It is busy, but I think where I am quite lucky is that the Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle, also has type 1 diabetes, and he had late-onset. And within the House of Commons already, other people like former Prime Minister, Baroness Theresa May, who has type 1 diabetes. It is incredibly supportive. They are watching out for the signs, but I think my biggest fear, to be honest, is having a hypoglycaemic episode (low blood glucose) in the Chamber itself. The other day I had to stand up for a question, and I could see my numbers were going down. It was 3.6 and going down, and I had taken some sugar on, but it didn't seem to be moving, I thought, please don't start the alarms going off. Just as I was standing up to ask a question it pulled round. During my maiden speech, my first time speaking. I was so nervous my blood glucose was rocketing up because of the stress. It was making my mouth dry, which is the worst thing you want when you are trying to give your first speech. But again, I got through it. It’s just learning techniques, and how to manage.”

DRWF: What diabetes technology do you use?

Sarah: “I am on an insulin pump. I find the best thing about tech, is the ability to be able to dose myself when I am in public and it not necessarily be a big thing. People might think I am slightly rude because they think I am on the phone, but that is okay. I'd much rather that and it means I can control it better because it is a little bit more discreet, which is what I think I have benefited most from. So yes, it is a challenge. But like all things with diabetes, we can manage.”

DRWF: Have you always been happy to talk about your diabetes and your tech?

Sarah: “When I first was diagnosed, I just was not sure how people would react to it, because I was shocked myself. Especially with type 1 diabetes, knowing there was absolutely nothing I could have done about that. It was just something that happened, and I am such a proud advocate of talking about it because I think people do not understand the difference between type 2 diabetes and type 1 diabetes.

“I want to be quite vocal about this to help teach people break down the stigmas and do whatever we can to help find cures in the future and help to live better with the condition. I'm very happy to talk about it. Everyone knows me as a diabetes lady. Long may that continue.”

“It is very difficult at this stage to exactly pinpoint type 1 diabetes, but I think the ELSA Study has been fantastic for showing there are antibodies present which can signpost type 1 diabetes will develop. This gives families of children time to prepare.”

DRWF: The DRWF slogan is ‘Staying well until a cure is found’. What are your hopes for a cure in the future? 

Sarah: “I'm very confident. Certainly, in my lifetime, I'm sure we are going to get to a point of finding a cure. There are so many people doing some incredibly fantastic work looking at all different areas. I am very optimistic that we will get there and I am so grateful for all the hard work that researchers and clinicians do. They often do not have diabetes themselves, but they commit their lives to it, and I just cannot thank them enough. On behalf of all of us for keeping us going and giving us the opportunity to thrive, I'm just so grateful.”

Sarah concluded: “I want to reiterate, to tell people to speak out when you know about this condition. There is such a fantastic community of people. We are all here for you. When I first got diagnosed, I didn't actually know anyone who had diabetes. And of all people, I actually contacted Theresa May because I knew she had a late diagnosis. That was so reassuring. I felt if the Prime Minister of the country can have type 1 diabetes and do that job, then there is nothing that needs to stop me. 

“My biggest thing to people is just ask questions, reach out, and do not be alone on this because we have all gone through it. You have good days and bad, but those good days outweigh the bad. Please just speak out and keep being persistent about treatment. Sometimes you do have to keep advocating if you think something is not right, or if you think you need more help, just keep asking. Don't suffer in silence.”

The DRWF Living with Diabetes women's health podcast series is supported by Abbott.

Launched to coincide with World Diabetes Day (14^th November), the DRWF Women and Diabetes series brings together inspirational women from diverse backgrounds who live with diabetes, to share their life stories in their own words. 

We explore how they navigate the different stages of life while managing their condition, and the strategies they use to minimise its impact and live fully.

Sarah Tutton, DRWF Chief Executive, said: “At DRWF, everything we do is grounded in compassion, credibility, and collaboration. We actively listen to the voices of those we serve, ensuring that our initiatives are shaped by lived experience and respond to real-world needs. In doing so, we aim not only to inform and support, but also to inspire hope and positive change within the diabetes community.”