The Lilly Diabetes Journey Awards program recognizes thousands of individuals who have successfully managed their diabetes for 10, 25, 50, even 75 years. The awards honor those who have long been successful, but also to inspire others to believe they can do it, too. Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s Nutrition & Diabetes Education on Tuesday hosted a ceremony with Lilly to honor eight recipients who have earned the award by managing their diabetes for 25 and 50 years. One attendee will be eligible for an incredible 75-year award soon – Bill Bunting has lived with diabetes for 71 years. Though one recipient, Terri Jones, earned a 25-year award, she has had diabetes for 41 years and is working toward a 50-year honor. All the others have successfully managed their disease for 50+ years.
At the event, the honorees remembered the early days when their bathrooms looked like laboratories, testing supplies were only to be found on the other side of the Bay Bridge, and medication options meant taking pills many times a day. They appreciated advances in diabetic care such as insulin pumps and efficient, easy-to-find testing supplies.
Lilly Diabetes Journey Award recipients all have type 1 diabetes and have been taking insulin continuously. They each received an engraved medal to celebrate their continued success. All the honorees are patients of Dr. Jack Snitzer of Peninsula Regional Endocrinology & Diabetes, with locations in Salisbury and Berlin.
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Photo: From left, back row, Dr. Jack Snitzer, Nancy Nelson, Leonard Watkinson, Michael Wells, Robert Ford and Bill Bunting. Seated: Blaine Bunting, Terri Jones and Lori Jones.
