Wallace awarded 70 years' medal by Diabetes UK

A Ballymena resident has received a medal in recognition of his courage and perseverance of living with diabetes for seven decades.
Wallace Allen, a resident in Abbeyfield and Wesley,  proudly holds his MacLeod medal for 70 years living with diabetes. INBT 18-801HWallace Allen, a resident in Abbeyfield and Wesley,  proudly holds his MacLeod medal for 70 years living with diabetes. INBT 18-801H
Wallace Allen, a resident in Abbeyfield and Wesley, proudly holds his MacLeod medal for 70 years living with diabetes. INBT 18-801H

Wallace Allen (84), who resides at the Abbeyfield & Wesley House in the town, received ‘The John Macleod Medal’ from Diabetes UK on Wednesday.

Diabetes UK is a charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of all people affected by diabetes throughout the United Kingdom and it awards medals to people who have lived with the condition for over 50, 60, 70 and 80 years in recognition of their courage and perseverance of living with the condition.

The John Macleod medal, which Wallace received, is awarded to people who have lived with diabetes for 70 years. Its namesake was awarded half of the Nobel Prize for the discovery of insulin and Diabetes UK’s Central Offices are named in honour of Macleod’s great work and dedication to diabetes.

A very delighted and proud recipicient, 84-year-old Wallace has already been awarded the Alan Nabarro Medal marking 50 years of insulin dependency, which is named after Alan Nabarro who waged a lifelong battle against discrimination against people with diabetes.

He also holds the Robert Lawrence Medal for 60 years, named after the man who co-founded the Diabetic Association, now known as Diabetes UK, in 1934.