Australia and diabetes release

[CaptSaaz]

My girlfriend and I were looking at going to dive the Great Barrier Reef next year. However, she read somewhere that divers with type I diabetes need a release from an Austrailian doctor before dive operators will allow her to dive off their boats. Is this true? If so, what are they looking for that would prevent a diabetic from getting a release form signed?

FYI, she has been type I diabetic since 1970, well controlled, a medical release from her doctor here in the states to dive and has over 300 dives under her belt.

 

[paschen]

To be honest - I do not know... but the forms I fill out to dive suggest that doctors approval should be undertaken if I tick some of the boxes "yes." I am going to a dive party this Saturday night, so I will ask some dive professionals here in Qld before I get drunk. I will let you know on Monday my time. Cheers
Tae

 

[paschen]

Unfortunately our dive was cancelled on the weekend due to a shooting on the only access road to the dive site. I have sent an email to our instructors to get an answer for you.
Cheers
Tae

 

[Cacia]

you know...if she is well controlled, why would you tell the operator? who are they anyway? It is your business. I do not think telling operators your medical history is such a good idea. half the people out there would not be diving.

Have you ever been diagnosed with mental illness?

Have you ever had a problem with alcohol?

Could you possibly be pregnant?

Am I the only one that thinks this?

 

[rickydazla]

DAN's latest Alert Diver has some interesting facts and figures about research done amongst diabetic divers with regards to their wotsit levels pre and post dive.. To the effect that even well controlled, experienced divers were shocked at the change in levels even amongst non-diabetic control-group divers.

(Just goggled it quickly and can only find links to it as an upcoming project. I have passed my copy of the mag onto someone else too so the above is all I can offer.)

 

[paschen]

"I haven’t heard that myself, you will probably find that one of the people that died on the reef over the last couple of years was a diabetic and didn’t put it on the waiver release form so now they are cagey about it.

I will find out for you if you like, a friend of mine is a dive doctor in Cairns."

If you want her to follow this up please let me know.

Cheers
Tae

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi CaptSaaz,

Regarding diving with diabetes, you might find the following informative: "Diving With Diabetes" http://www.awoosh.com/Doc Vikingo's Resource Page/Diving_With_Diabetes_Updated.htm

BTW, I notice that the last hot link in that piece, the one to DAN's latest guidlines, is not functioning. That information can be found at http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/news/article.asp?newsid=741. As you will see, the text must purchased, but the price is modest.

As regards specific Queensland medical rules to dive with diabetes requiring insulin, you must obtain a medical certificate clearing you for scuba. This may not be easy to do, especially if you undergo medical examination in OZ. Generally, properly done dive medicals from a country other than OZ will be accepted provided that they explicitly state they are in conformance with Australian Standard AS4005.1 and are reported in a format consistent with that standard.

The particulars of AS4005.1 are found as an appendix to "Training and certification of recreational divers - Minimum entry-level SCUBA diving" http://www.saiglobal.com/shop/script/Details.asp?DocN=AS002706431346. This text also must be purchased at a modest price.


Helpful?

DocVikingo

 

[DocVikingo]

1. Because even well-controlled insulin-dependent diabetics can have break throughs. What if the dive buddy, for whatever reason, wasn't present during a glucose crisis to take action or inform the boat crew and emergency personnel of the patient's status?

2. Because even though the releases dive ops make you sign appear to absolve them of any conceivable liability, these releases can be and are challenged in court, sometimes successfully. If it can be demonstrated that you lied on the routine medical questionnaire that all ops also make you complete, and believe me their attorneys almost certainly would discover that you did, your case is dead on arrival no matter what the merits.

3. Because your knowing failure to report your medical condition could result in harm to another person in the group or to the dive op. Because suit could be brought against you as a result of such harm.

4. Because these are the uniform rules of organized scuba, a pursuit in which you have voluntarily chosen to participate and whose overall welfare is in your best interests. Because it is the honest and ethical thing to do.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Cacia]

Respectfully, I disagree.

I know Diabetics who understand their disease and control it successfully. I think it is their decision to make with their own physician. I do not think the average dive operator has much understanding about it and I do not think that it is their place to police or enforce my health, your health, or anything health related.

Are you in favor of asking for pregnancy tests, fitness reports, etc? (by the operator?)

You obviously have the say with your patients....and you have medical authority here. So, I will temper my medical opinions.

I prefer that my physician and I make the decision without any extraneous "standardized" protocols. Rip me up, it's okay. I have dealt with enough physicians to know some will agree and some won't. I have dived with a diabetic surgeon.

I NEVER disclose personal medical information on any release forms for any business purposes. I dove Palau twice with an AVNRT that was later ablated. My cardiologist knew I did not have problems when horizontal...we decided..we were right. It is my life. If you would prefer that this opinion not be presented at all, that is fine. I think people miss the rounded out perspective of taking their own responsibility for their own health if you ONLY sanction what the party line advocates.

Can "Matt" dive his dream? Is that an acceptable exception?

 

[Aquanautchuck]

After having to go through a bunch of hoops the first few times I filled out the forms, I just write no on them. As far as I am concerned, my doctor has cleared me to dive, [I get annual check ups] and that is all I need to know. Unless I choose to, I feel nobody else needs to know.

Personally I would be more concerned about the divers that do not see their doctor regularly, dive only on warm water vacations and have no clue of what time bomb is ticking away inside themselves. We have all read the stories about the diver that had a heart condition or such, was over weight, smoked, and out of shape who had a heart attack. Just my 2 cents worth.

Charles