In the United Kingdom, the national organization Diabetes UK awards medals to individuals who have lived with type 1 diabetes for 50 years or more.

Recently, researchers studied 400 of these medal-holders to determine whether they shared any common characteristics.

The study participants had an average age of 68.9 years, and their average age at the onset of diabetes was 13.7 years.

As a group, the long-term type 1 survivors were described as follows:

1. They had maintained normal body weight (measured as body mass index)

2. They took low doses of insulin—an average of 0.52 units per kg of body weight (for example, 37.77 units for a 160-pound person)

3. They had elevated levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol

4. They had average A1Cs of 7.6% or less

5. Their parents had lived a long time

6. They consumed alcohol moderately

Diabetic Medicine, October 2003
-J. Chanslor

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Diabetes Interview USA  July 2001 cover story ("Wisdom of the Elders"), profiled several people who had lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 50 years.

These were their success stories:

Karl Smith-79 years with type 1

• Insulin regimen: 8 units of R before each meal; 2.5 units of R at 1 a.m.
• Tests seven times a day and keeps his blood glucose between 70 and 110 mg/dl
• Maintains an A1C of 5.5%
• Eats the same amount of carbs, protein and fat every day, on a 1,500-calorie diet
• Stayed the same weight his whole life

Marie Kaminez-55 years with type 1

• Insulin regimen: 8 units of NPH and a sliding scale of 2 to 6 units of Humalog in the morning; 7 units of Humalog in the afternoon; 6 units of NPH at bedtime
• Tests at least five times a day and keeps her blood glucose around 120 mg/dl
• Maintains an A1C between 6 and 6.5%
• Stays away from "high carbs"
• Uses a treadmill at home and walks around the block five or six times a day a couple of times per week

Joseph Bernstein-52 years with type 1

• Insulin regimen: 20 to 30 units of Humalog, R and NPH per day, adjusted to blood glucose levels
• Tests five times a day and keeps his blood glucose above 100 mg/dl
• Maintains an A1C between 6 and 7%
• Watches his carb intake
• Goes to the gym three times a week and plays golf

Clayton Harmon--51 years with type 1

• Insulin regimen: 6 units of NPH and Humalog in the morning; 6 units of Humalog at lunch; 8 units of Humalog at dinner; 11 units of NPH at bedtime
• Tests four times a day and keeps his blood glucose around 125 mg/dl
• Maintains an A1C around 5.4%
• Eats lots of greens, and always eats oatmeal for breakfast