Four patients at Maidstone Hospital have been presented with awards by the Diabetes Team for managing their conditions for 50 years.

John Strevens, Peter Jenner, Maureen Cole and Derrick Small received the Alan Nabarro medal for living with diabetes for over 50 years*. (See notes to editors for further information about the background to the awards.)

All the recipients attended the event at Maidstone Hospital on Monday 14 November, with members of their families, and were joined by staff from the centre. 14 November is also the day that World Diabetes Day falls on each year. Dr Siva, Consultant in Diabetes, along with other members of the diabetes team, presented them with their certificates and medals.

Dr Siva said: “We are very proud to be able to present the awards to these individuals, who have each lived with and coped with the challenges diabetes for fifty years or more. They set an admirable example to others and show that normal lives can be led and much can be achieved, whilst living with diabetes.”

Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Alison Steward said: “Over the years, all our award recipients have seen enormous changes in diabetes management and have adapted to these changes accordingly. It’s hard enough to juggle the normal pressures of everyday life, but if you add in blood glucose testing, carbohydrate counting and giving up to 5 injections a day, every day of your life with no holiday or day off, you realise how inspiring these people are.

“Diabetes is a life changing condition so these 50 year awards are a real achievement and we were delighted to present them to these four quite remarkable people.”

During the event, each of the award recipients said a few words about their personal experiences living with diabetes. All recounted their diagnoses as children or teenagers and how their treatment, medicines and approach to diabetes has changed over the fifty plus years they have managed the condition.

The Alan Nabarro medal is available for patients who have lived with diabetes for 50, 60, 70 and 80 years. If you would like to nominate someone you know, please contact out diabetes team on mtw-tr.pcdmaidstone@nhs.net

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Note to editors:

The Alan Nabarro medal

This medal is awarded to people who have lived with diabetes for fifty 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 medals are provided by and presented on behalf of Diabetes UK.