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When I participated in the Joslin Medalist Study in December, 2009, I was told that the goal was to have examined 750 long term Type 1 diabetics. They have examined approximately 600 so far. The Study is to conclude in April, 2011.
All the participants have been Type 1 for 50 years, or more. You would think these Type 1's would have had good control to have lived so long and have no serious complications. That is not entirely true. The person in charge of my examination told me that several participants freely admitted they were very careless with their eating habits and rarely tested their BG, but they had no complications after 50+ years. Many of us, like me, knew so little about proper diabetes care during our first 30 years, but have used very good diabetes management in more recent years. My diabetes management was horrible until I found I was supposed to follow a low carb diet in 1988. Even then, I did not know about basal/bolus control with carb counting, but here I am after 64 years with no complications.
I think we Medalists are diabetic "freaks". We should not have lived so long and have such good health. I just hope that the Medalist Study will provide a treatment that can help recently diagnosed and younger Type 1's so they too can avoid complications. That is what Dr King, the man in charge of the Study, hopes will occur. Maybe we freaks have made a significant contribution by participating.
All the participants have been Type 1 for 50 years, or more. You would think these Type 1's would have had good control to have lived so long and have no serious complications. That is not entirely true. The person in charge of my examination told me that several participants freely admitted they were very careless with their eating habits and rarely tested their BG, but they had no complications after 50+ years. Many of us, like me, knew so little about proper diabetes care during our first 30 years, but have used very good diabetes management in more recent years. My diabetes management was horrible until I found I was supposed to follow a low carb diet in 1988. Even then, I did not know about basal/bolus control with carb counting, but here I am after 64 years with no complications.
I think we Medalists are diabetic "freaks". We should not have lived so long and have such good health. I just hope that the Medalist Study will provide a treatment that can help recently diagnosed and younger Type 1's so they too can avoid complications. That is what Dr King, the man in charge of the Study, hopes will occur. Maybe we freaks have made a significant contribution by participating.