What makes them special
“My parents were told I would die in my early 20s,” said one woman diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on her eighth birthday. “They decided not to tell me that until my early 50s.” Such comments were common among the more than 100 Joslin 50-Year Medalists who gathered at Joslin Diabetes Center, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, on June 4 along with family and friends. Sharing their stories about living with the disease for many decades, the veterans also heard updates on research about their unusual medical characteristics. The Joslin Medal originally was given as recognition for long-term survival with type 1 diabetes, in which the body attacks its own cells that produce insulin, a hormone that lets body use the sugar found in foods for energy. Over time, however, Joslin scientists spotted unusual and positive health trends among the 50-Year Medalists, which led to the launch of the Medalist Study in 2005. “You’re...