Leicestershire woman gets diabetes award
A woman with type 1 diabetes has been presented with an award for living with the condition for 50 years.
Monica Bloom, from South Wigston, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged 16, was given Diabetes UK’s Alan Nabarro Medal.
The 68-year-old said: “It’s very nice to receive the award, I wasn’t expecting it. I thought Dr Gregory was joking when he said I deserved a medal as we always have a joke when I come to the hospital. I just laughed.”
She said she had experienced a massive change in the way diabetes is managed over the past five decades, including being on five different insulins, but added: “Because I have had it since I was 16 I have just got used to it.”
‘Privilege’
Chris Askew, Diabetes UK chief executive, said: “Our Alan Nabarro award celebrates the lives of people who have been living diabetes for over 50 years. It’s a real privilege to be able to give the medal to Monica in person. Hopefully this will inspire others.”
The award is named after the late Alan Nabarro who 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.
As well as presenting the accolade at Leicester General Hospital, Mr Askew also had a guided tour of the diabetes outpatients department at the hospital. The visit was organised by diabetes consultant Dr Rob Gregory and diabetes consultant nurse June James.
Dr Gregory said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Askew to our hospital where he spoke to people with complications of diabetes being cared for as inpatients and in the clinic.”
Mr Askew also visited the neighbouring Leicester Diabetes Centre, an international centre of excellence in diabetes research, education and innovation also based at the hospital.
Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin producing cells in the body have been destroyed and the body is unable to produce any insulin.
The condition is treated by daily insulin doses, taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10 per cent of all cases of diabetes in adults.