The award is given to individuals, who through their achievements in the care, support, or management of diabetes, have created direct or indirect benefits for the diabetes cause in New Zealand.
Mr Edgar told the Otago Daily Times that while he was fortunate to have never suffered from diabetes, and there was no history of it in his family, he knew people who did.
"For a lot of people it's quite solvable.
"Type one is hereditary and requires attention. Type two is quite solvable."
Mr Edgar said his involvement with diabetes began about six years ago through the University of Otago's department of medical and surgical science's diabetes research centre - Edgar National Centre.
"I've always found if you're raising money, the easiest way is to put your own money up first.
"I was looking for something that was suitable and I had asked all the departments [at the university] what was the best thing."
The answer was Prof Jim Mann's Diabetes Research Foundation.
Mr Edgar said he knew Prof Mann and wanted to assist with diabetes research, so "I backed that".
He put up $1 million, which was matched by the Government and the research foundation was established.
"Our main thing is to co-ordinate and encourage quality research, whether we do it, or Auckland University does it, whoever, just to get a focus on getting more and better research done for diabetes."
Three and a-half years ago, Diabetes New Zealand was organising a congress in Wellington and wanted an independent chairman.
"They asked if I would chair it, so I ended up chairing this congress.
"It worked very well . . . we ran the largest ever medical conference in New Zealand."
It was for those "two small contributions" the life membership was awarded to him, he said.
"They are very kind.
"I'm very humbled."
Diabetes New Zealand communications manager Jayne Cooper-Woodhouse said the organisation was honoured to present the award to Mr Edgar at the recent Diabetes New Zealand conference and annual meeting.
