Joslin Diabetes Center, the global leader in diabetes research, care and education centre acknowledged him for living with type I diabetes for 75 years.
Robert L. Bates of New Windsor, will be celebrating his 80th birthday at the Thayer Hotel at West Point, NY. He has another reason to celebrate, he will be presented with the 22nd Joslin Victory Award Medal, by Joslin Diabetes Center, the global leader in diabetes research, care and education. This centre acknowledged him for living with type I diabetes for 75 years. Apparently, the hotel is commemorating its 80th anniversary.
"Joslin Medal recipients are individuals who have beaten the odds against diabetes, and Robert Bates is certainly no exception," says George L. King, M.D., director of research at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Dr. King will present the medal to Bates on Sunday. "Robert has continued to live a very successful and fulfilling life despite the challenges associated with the disease."Bates is a retired chief train dispatcher for the Metro North Railroad in New York. He and his wife of more than 52 years, Carol Bates, have four children: Jacquelyn, Betsie, Robert L. Jr., and John W.
"I am grateful to receive the medal and feel a certain amount of pride in the fact that I have beaten the odds. At the time I was diagnosed, life expectancy was not favorable," says Bates. "I am appreciative that I received early training and education at Joslin Clinic and have benefited from ongoing advances in diabetes treatment, which have allowed me to live a full life."
Bates frequently communicated with Elliott P. Joslin, M.D., founder of Joslin Diabetes Center, who began treating Bates after he was diagnosed in 1931 and regularly inquired about his health. If Dr. Joslin did not receive a response, he would write again, once even sending a telegram. These letters dated through 1961 reflect Dr. Joslin's dedication to what is now called outcomes research, gathering evidence to support his medical recommendations and refining his approach to diabetes management.
By living more than 75 years with type 1 diabetes, "it shows that Dr. Joslin's mission was not in vain, and that my years of testing my blood glucose levels, doing calculations to balance insulin with food intake, and the many, many injections, have paid off," Bates says.
Bates continues to participate in clinical research at Joslin to help others with diabetes. In March, he came to Joslin to participate in the Medalist Study, which began in April 2005 and is led by Dr. King and Hillary Keenan, Ph.D. The Medalist Study is examining people living more than 50 years with type 1 diabetes to understand what factors contribute to the longevity among individuals who have received this honor. Of the 326 Joslin 50-Year Medalist Study respondents who have completed an extensive health questionnaire, 175 were female and 151 were male, with an average age of 70 years. The average age of diabetes onset was 13 years and average duration of type 1 diabetes 57 years. The data collected so far show that individuals who have survived 50 years or more have a greatly reduced risk of nephropathy and retinopathy.
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Medal and certificate recipients come from all walks of life and represent a wide spectrum of life experiences, cultural backgrounds and geographic locations. Joslin has awarded medals to individuals across the United States and around the world, including people living with diabetes in Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Hungary, Japan, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
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