Diabetes and Scuba Certification

[sstorkel]

After lots of snorkeling and a couple of SNUBA dives on our last three vacations, my girlfriend and I have become very interested in scuba diving. Here's the problem: I'm an insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM). I use an insulin pump (Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm) and the Humalog fast-acting insulin analog to control my blood sugar. I have good control of my diabetes (HbA1c generally around 6.5, checked 3-4 times/year) and have participated in other activities (e.g. motorcycle racing) where good control is fairly critical. I have been diabetic for over 20 years, and have been using insulin pump therapy for the majority of that time (anyone remember AutoSyringe?).

I was a bit surprised to find that diabetes was considered an absolute contraindication for diving by some certifying organizations (e.g. NAUI)! Of course, I can understand at least some of the risks... Luckily, I've managed to find quite a bit of information on this board and it sounds like there are more than a few insulin-dependent diabetics who dive!

I do have a number of questions about diabetes and scuba certification:

1) Which organizations will train and certify openly-diabetic divers? Looks like SSI and YMCA do. Provided you follow their protocols? Sounds like PADI might? NAUI doesn't. Haven't investigated others.

2) What hoops do you have to jump through in order to get certified (OW, AOW, etc)? Sign-off from your endocrinologist? Sign-off from a dive-knowledgable doc? Specific medical or physical tests?

3) Is it common for dive shops or dive/tour leaders to restrict diabetics from diving? It might suck to get certified and then be restricted to beach dives in shallow water because you couldn't set foot on a dive boat... Not that I'm running these types of dives down! Just trying to figure out the restrictions and hurdles.

4) Even if you manage to get a basic OW certification, are diabetics restricted from more advanced forms of diving/certification? I seem to recall reading something that suggested, for instance, that diabetics be limited to dives that don't require decompression stops. Not sure what my aspirations are in terms of advanced training/certification, again just trying to figure out what the limitations are.

5) Do protocols exist for divers using insulin pumps and/or fast-acting insulin? Most of the information I've been able to find seems to be designed for diabetics using long-acting insulin (e.g. NPH). I have a pretty rigid program I use when operating a motorcycle at a racetrack (strict intake of known carbohydrates, frequent blood sugar checks, adjusted blood sugar targets, and reduced insulin levels based on the expected level of activity), but of course motorcycle racing isn't diving.

Thanks for your help and advice!
-- Scott

 

[ASUPaula]

Scott, I have absolutely no information to offer, but wanted to comment that I just today had a conversation with a friend who wondered if his insulin pump would prevent him from scuba diving. Thanks for asking the question. I'm looking forward to seeing the responses. ~ Paula

 

[Padipro]

I've known several divers with diabetes, I've even certified one myself a few years back. The last I heard, as far as PADI was concerned, as long as your Doctor would sign off on the medical statement you're good to go. Of course it's always up to the Instructor as to whether or not they will accept you into the class.

I did a search on the net and found some info that might help you.

YMCA

Diabetes and Diving

Q: Hi, Suzanne. I came across this Web site while searching for information about diabetes and SCUBA diving. If this is an appropriate place to ask this question (and I hope it is), I will ask it. Otherwise, sorry to take up your time! Some background: I am a 40-year old female who has been insulin-dependent for 20 years. I made the HUGE decision to take SCUBA lessons this year, as my husband and I travel a lot (18 countries in the past 10 years). He dives, while I lay on the beach and read and snorkel. I have snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, in Fiji, in Bonaire and Hawaii. I just decided it would be fun to try diving with him. Well, the dive schools are thrilled to talk to me and get my credit card number, then as soon as I mention being insulin dependent, they freak out. It appears from your biography that you are a diver. First of all, I do not know any female divers, much less any one who has diabetes or knows anything about diabetes. What is your opinion about insulin dependence and diving? I'm waiting for my doctor to return the dive school's medical questionnaire and have no idea of whether or not he will recommend me for the classes, but I thought it would be fun to get online and see what other people think. By the way, I use my FastTake Meter 4+ times a day and LOVE it! I have recommended it to many people, especially those of us who travel. If you have time to respond, thanks in advance.

A: Suzanne's response: If you are in good control and have very few hypoglycemic episodes, there is no reason you cannot take diving lessons and become certified to SCUBA dive. If your husband is an avid diver, he will probably be familiar with DAN. They launched a study in 1997 to analyze current blood glucose guidelines for insulin-dependent SCUBA divers. When you are certified, you may be interested in volunteering for the ongoing study. In any event, you can get more information about the study and diving with diabetes from Donna Uguccioni at DAN Research: e-mail DUguccioni@shaldane.mc.duke.edu or call (919) 684-2984 ext. 627, Monday -Friday, 9 AM-5 PM Eastern Time. I know you will enjoy taking the plunge! I wish you luck.


SSI

BIBLIOGRAPHY: DIABETES & DIVING

DAN

I hope this helps.

 

[ppo2_diver]

I'm an insulin dependant diabetic (also on a MiniMed pump) and I'm a PADI instructor. There are no limitations on diabetics diving. As long as you dive within your personal comfort and your doctor states that you are fit enough for diving, you should have no problems. The later is the most important. I still have my endocrinologist sign off my medical form every year.

Duane