I thought that I would mention the Joslin Medalist program here. I have seen it mentioned on message boards a couple different times and there are always some long-term diabetics that have never heard of the program. I was just shy of my 25 years when I first heard of the program. Basically, Joslin will give a certificate to those people that have been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 25 years. People who made it 50 or 75 years actually get a medal. They use the term “insulin-dependent,” so that means to me, they don’t care what type you are as long as you are using insulin. You don’t need to be a patient at Joslin to qualify.
I know in some of the conversations that I have read, some people ask “what is the big deal?” A lot of us celebrate our diaversaries and having a little certificate probably doesn’t mean much. If you have to find records from 25 years ago to prove when you were diagnosed, can you imagine having to go back 50 years? I think by the time we get to 50 years, we all deserve that medal and it better be solid gold! Even if you are at 35 or 45 years, you can still get the 25 year one. Send for your 25 year certificate and stick it in the back of your filing cabinet. It will make it easier when you go for that 50 year medal. Just do it!
On the Joslin website, they have a list of several things that they will accept as proof. If you are not able to come up with anything (doctors aren’t required to save records that long), then you can get letters from family or friends stating the time you were diagnosed. I thought I was going to have to do that because I did not have any of that stuff. I was diagnosed right around the 1984 Super Bowl. I had a bet on that Super Bowl and won a case of beer and then did not collect because I thought I could never have beer again. I planned on asking my cousin that lost the bet and two other family members to write a letter. I procrastinated and then I found an old medical alert card that had the date, stated that I was diabetic and what insulin I used. Joslin did accept that and sent me the certificate.
You can get more information on the Joslin Medalist program here. The page with the application has the details of what is necessary for proof..
Trials & Tribulations of Being a Type 1 Diabetic 
Woo hoo!!!!!! I keep meaning to fill out an application for this – I need to get some of my relative to write letters for me since my records are all gone. 😦 Did you know Lilly has a program too – with an actual medal for 25 years? I just got mine – I really need to blog that, huh? Anyway here is the link if you are interested!! http://www.lillydiabetes.com/Pages/journey-awards.aspx
Get your relatives to write the letters Karen – it will make it easier when you hit 50 years. I did not know that Lilly had a program. Thank you for the link. I am interested. Yes, you need to blog about that – I am sure I am not the only one that did not know about it!