A REDDITCH man recently received the Robert Lawrence Medal from Diabetes UK.

Eric Saunders, of Church Hill, was presented with the medal surrounded by members of the local branch of Diabetes UK, members of a diabetes specialist team and Dr I Babar, a consultant endocrinologist at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

This medal recognises the special achievement of a person who has lived with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus for 60 years.

Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body stops making insulin, resulting in a rise of the blood glucose level and causing internal organ damage. It is currently treated with lifelong insulin injections. 

A spokesman said: “Mr Saunders has shown from his dedication that it is perfectly possible to achieve a good control of type 1 diabetes over a very long period of time and live a normal life. He also believes it would not have been possible without the support of Jean, his wife of over 30 years.”