Type 1 Diabetes Study

I was diagnosed in 1945, and I have been type 1 for 72 years. I do not have diabetes related complications, except for some neuropathy. How is that possible? I don't know. It could be good genes. My last name has Celtic and Welsh origin, and there are many Vaughn's in Ireland. Maybe my good fortune is the luck of the Irish. ;)
There is a Facebook group called "The Joslin Medalists". It is a secret group. (Shhhh, don't tell anybody!) All the members there have been type 1 for at least 50 years, and they have Joslin 50 year medals. There are more than 5000 people who have been awarded that medal, and a great majority of us do not have any serious diabetes complications. We can't all be Irish, so there must be some other explanation. lol
The Joslin Medalist Study is attempting to find the factors that have enabled us to have type 1 for so long, without serious complications. Dr King, head of the study, in Boston, says there is some kind of special inner protection that many of us have that keeps our eyes, kidneys and nervous systems healthy. Many of you type 1 people here are very likely to have that inner protection, too. Dr. King also said that our hearts do not benefit from that protection, so he advised us to take very good care of our hearts!
Some progress has been made on pinpointing this inner protection. The study, 2005-2017, has thoroughly examined 1020 medalists. I participated in 2009, and again in June of this year. In the days ahead I am going to post some of the results found with this study.