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Jonty Brown, a 35-year-old ultra-marathon runner from Harrogate, has found new freedom in his sporting pursuits despite living with type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at the age of 12, Jonty recalls struggling initially with managing his blood sugar levels, which involved numerous daily injections and finger pricks. “When I was diagnosed, it was the first thing that went through my mind: that I was going to have to inject myself multiple times a day,” he explains. He adds that needle phobia made the early days even more challenging. Support from hospital staff and family played a crucial role in helping him adapt, and his condition became easier to control after he began using an insulin pump and a blood glucose monitor.
Two years ago, Jonty became one of the first individuals in the UK to be fitted with a hybrid closed loop system, often called an artificial pancreas. This advanced device continuously monitors blood sugar via a sensor worn on the back of his arm and automatically adjusts insulin delivery from a pump worn on his leg. “It will try and regulate it for me,” he says, describing how the two devices communicate through a connected app. This technology has revolutionised Jonty’s life by maintaining his blood glucose levels within a safe range, especially overnight, which he calls “a huge weight off my shoulders.”
The NHS announced in 2024 their plan to offer this technology to tens of thousands of people with type 1 diabetes in England, although full availability for all eligible patients may take until around 2029 due to supply and training limitations. With almost 300,000 individuals living with type 1 diabetes in the UK, including approximately 29,000 children, access to such innovations could substantially improve daily life for many.
Running became a major part of Jonty’s life during the Covid pandemic, and he quickly developed a passion for it. “I just love ultra-running. It’s a really good way for me to get out and explore the world, to think about things, make peace with it and find some quiet,” he says. His achievements include running across the UK and completing a 500km ultra-marathon from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, where he finished fourth overall and became the first person with type 1 diabetes to do so. The artificial pancreas makes pursuing these demanding challenges much more manageable, enabling him to monitor and regulate his condition on the move without interrupting his runs. “Having to stop and check or give yourself insulin would make it really hard,” he notes, but with the pump in his pocket and the continuous monitoring system, “It’s made a lot easier these days.
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