Thanks to advances in science regarding diabetes treatment, it is now possible for patients with this chronic metabolic disease to live long and healthy lives. The December 2014 issue of the Diabetes Forecast magazine, the Healthy Living Magazine of the American Diabetes Association, features the successful and inspiring stories of several diabetics who have been living with the disease for 10, 25, 50 and 75 years. These individuals’ decades-long successful battle against the odds is celebrated with Lilly and Joslin medals.
Elizabeth Tarbox, 80 years old, is a remarkable example of effective, long-term diabetes management. When she was just a child, she was rushed to a hospital in Boston with signs of ketoacidosis. At the hospital, Dr. Elliott Joslin, who later on was given recognition as a pioneer in diabetes studies, diagnosed her type 1 diabetes. Elizabeth Tarbox began her lifelong experience of daily insulin injections and tight control of her glucose levels; she received the 75 year Lilly Diabetes Journey Award last June.
The Lilly Diabetes program and the Joslin 50-Year Medalist Study, through the Medals of Resilience, aim to recognize patients that have been coping with type 1 diabetes disease for many years. These patients are important role models for younger ones facing the disease. They can also be highly valuable in further understanding the disease, and in improving therapies by studying their biology and their lifestyle. Through their unwavering efforts to take control of their disease, researchers might be able to understand how they managed to escape some of diabetes’ common, life-altering complications, such as kidney failure, blindness and nerve disease, known to affect so many other patients.
In the December issue of the Diabetes Forecast magazine, several other pertinent topics on effectively managing diabetes are discussed: “The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ focus on diabetes care; Does diabetes play a role in hearing loss?; An FBI special agent with diabetes wins her dream job; The basics of clinical research and how to participate; Healthful soup recipes—plus tips for stirring up delicious concoctions at home,” as it can be read in the press release.
More Recent News About Diabetes Type 1
A new study called “Comparison of breath gases, including acetone,with blood glucose and blood ketones in children and adolescents with type1 diabetes,” points to a new non-invasive diagnostic breath test to be used in children with type 1 diabetes. The study was published in the November issue of Journal of Breath Research.
