WEDNESDAY, 24 AUGUST, 2016

PHOTOGRAPH OPPORTUNITY: 3PM, FRIDAY 26 AUGUST, EDUCATION CENTRE, DIABETES CLINIC (LEVEL7) STRATHMORE UNIT, NINEWELLS HOSPITAL, DUNDEE

Dundee man receives Nabarro Medal

Dundee man Dr John (Iain) Spence will be presented with the Nabarro Medal Friday, 26 August at Ninewells Hospital.

Diabetes UK Supporter Services awards The Alan Nabarro Medal to people who have lived with diabetes for 50 years. Diabetes is a common life-long health condition where the amount of glucose in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly due to a lack of insulin or because of the resistance to effect of insulin.

Dr Spence (69) was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 18 during his first year at Queen’s College St Andrews University. Dr Spence’s early experience of the healthcare support available back in the 1960s is hugely different to what is now offered to people living with diabetes. He explained that after it was confirmed that he had developed diabetes he was told by his doctor the shocking news that he would be lucky to live until he was 30.

Being diagnosed with diabetes changed Dr Spence’s life as not only did he have to cope with daily insulin injections and monitoring his food intake but also a career change overnight. Following his diagnosis he was persuaded to switch his civil engineering degree to mathematics and become a teacher as this was considered a safer working environment for those with diabetes.

Dr Spence said, “During my first year at University I started to display the classic symptoms of diabetes in that I was losing weight and had an extreme thirst and after tests at Dundee Royal Infirmary I was diagnosed with diabetes. To survive my life became ruled by insulin and the only support back then was from the British Diabetic Association which organised a local support group of fellow diabetics who helped me understand what I would have to do to adapt my life to enable me to live with this disease.

“Today the situation for people with diabetes is completely different as they are very well supported by the Diabetes Team in NHS Tayside. NHS Tayside runs various structured education programmes for individuals with diabetes where they can learn what they can do to live well. The Tayside Insulin Management course (TIM) is one such course which teaches patients how to count carbohydrates and use their blood glucose test results to calculate the correct insulin dose for their meal. So different from my youth when often I had to guess the insulin dosage risking administering the wrong dosage.

“Diabetes doesn’t just affect the person it affects your wife or husband and your family and having their support really does make a huge difference to coping with this disease. My wife Sheila has been a constant source of support over these past 50 years.

“With the fantastic service provided by the consultants and specialist nurses at the Diabetes Clinic at Ninewells Hospital people diagnosed with diabetes are now in a much better position to manage their condition.

“I would urge everyone living with diabetes to ensure they attend their clinic appointments, take up all offers of education sessions as well as eye and feet screening programmes.”

Consultant Physician, Dr Alasdair Mackie, said, “For anyone to have lived with diabetes for 50 years is a major achievement and this award is greatly deserved and I am delighted to present Dr Spence with this medal.

“Diabetes care has vastly improved over the years and patients are now very much encouraged to be an active partner in their diabetes care. Better education and access to screening programmes have helped contribute to the improved long term health of patients.”

Contact:

Anna Michie

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138