Six patients were today (Wednesday 28 November, 2018) awarded with special 50 and 60 year medals-of-achievement at a special awards ceremony in recognition of their courage and perseverance in living with diabetes. The six recipients, all in their 70’s, have collectively lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 320 years.
The awards were presented in the recently-opened Simm’s Building beside Tallaght University Hospital, which is now the designated location for the Hospital’s diabetes outpatient services.
Tallaght University Hospital is a leading provider of complex diabetes care, and a core activity of its Diabetes Centre is to empower patients through education. Each year the Hospital sees and assists over 10,000 people living with diabetes. Today four women and two men from Dublin and Roscommon who have been attending the Diabetes outpatients Clinic at the Hospital will each receive either an Alan Nabarro medal (50 years) or a Robert Lawrence medal (60 years) by Professor Richard Firth, Consultant Endocrinologist and former National Lead for the Diabetes Clinical Programme in Ireland.
Commenting at the presentation Professor Firth said “Living with Diabetes for over 50 years is a remarkable achievement. It says more about the self-discipline and compliance of the individual patient than about the improving care available. However, the latter is improving so that we hope to see more and more people qualifying for Medals while we wait for the cure for Type 1 Diabetes.”
One in every 11 people is thought to be living with diabetes however one in every two people with Diabetes is unaware they have the condition. November is diabetes awareness month - managing all types of diabetes requires daily treatment, regular monitoring, health diet & lifestyle and ongoing education. It is widely accepted that up to 80% of Type 2 Diabetes could be prevented.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Alan Nabarro medal - Awarded to people who have lived with diabetes for 50 years. Alan Nabarro waged a lifelong battle against discrimination against people with diabetes. In 1968 he was awarded the OBE for his work with young people in London.
The Robert Lawrence medal - Awarded to people who have lived with diabetes for 60 years. Dr Robert Lawrence co-founded the Diabetic Association, now known as Diabetes UK, with H.G. Wells in 1934.
The medals are awarded by Diabetes UK in recognition of the courage and perseverance of people living with diabetes.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the beta cells of the pancreas gland stop producing the hormone insulin. As a result of this, the diabetic patient needs to take insulin by injection or via a pump.
Complications can arise depending on how long someone has had diabetes and how it has been managed over that time. Keeping blood glucose under tight control helps to prevent or delay complications.
Further Information:
http://www.tuh.ie/Departments/Diabetes-Centre/
