DAN recommendation for Diving with Diabetes

[Blueraven]

Well I would rather dive with any type 1 that can recognize a hypo. that is more important than being type 1 or 2. If I feel an onset of hypo I still have 30 minutes to correct. Since I drill with my cake frosting underwater I can correct if I want. I have never had to use it once. I am on a pump and I can set-up a rising BG easily by lowering my basil rate prior to disconnecting from the pump and I disconnect and hour prior to diving. My Humalog insulin has peaked and is going away when I get in. I usually come out anywhere from 100 to 220. I love drift dives! I think they are a cool way to get some milage without over excertion. All in all I think it would be a great idea for Diabetic diver to form dive clubs and get to know each other. Maybe offer education to non-diabetic dive partners for members. Imagine what it would be like if one day it was as common to find a diver on board that had D-Buddy training as it is to find one with a CPR or any other First Aid card.

WW

 

[davidworkman]

It would be good to have a diabetic dive club. I've asked around but haven't found any. All I find is people studing diabetic divers.
What does it take to make it happen?

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi David,

I also am not aware of any clubs solely dedicated to the diabetic diver.

"What does it take to make it happen?" Perhaps someone like you to get the ball rolling?

The following organizations may be of assistance to you:

Camp DAVI
http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

Handicapped Scuba Association International
https://www.hsascuba.com/

American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

Keep us posted.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[616fun]

As a type 2 diabetic it is MY job to control my disease, not my doctors. I've been working on it for 15 years.

Being a 23 yr Type I veteran I can tell you this is the number one thing every diabetic needs to remember. Diving and diabetes is nothing to take lightly. When I dive, I consider the disease not only a higher risk factor for me during the dive, but for my buddy also. All my buddies know about the disease and we have explicit signs to define if I have a problem (in 3 active years diving there hasn't been a problem.)

That said - I am very much responsible for my disease and am proud to say I maintain very tight control using an insulin pump. My last HbA1C was 6.6. My best A1C was 6.1.

I'm glad DAN came out with the guidelines to acknowledge that diabetics are actively and safely diving.