diabetes

[Elevator Man]

I just received my OW and now have 18 dives under my belt. My last dive was the deepest at 77'. My friends are concerned about my diabetes and my diving. If anyone has any incidents with their diabetes and diving or have any suggestions, give me a buzz. I'm a type II diabetic and have read and heard all kinds of medical advice and ideas. I would like to hear from anyone who actually has experience. You can make it public so you don't have to contact me privately.

 

[TravisT]

My father is a diabetic and used to go diving all the time. He's had it nearly all of his life but worse over these past 10 years. He hasn't done any recent diving because we are now in our OW certification class. But that was one of hte same questions we had with our instructor who has over 1000 logged dives and has been doing this for 20 years.

He told us and the doctor has told him that he can do anything he wants. He just needs to make sure he eats right. You being a diabetic i'm sure you know when your blood sugar is falling. It may be unconvenient but go to the surface and grab yourself something to eat. Scuba diving isn't all that hard. If you treat your body right atleast the week before you go scuba diving and make sure you have a healthy breakfast before going out. I wouldn't feel there would be any risk involved.

Of course, i'm not a doctor but I know my father has questioned his doctor about a lot of things and normally this is the response he gets.

 

[IndigoBlue]

Everybody has got to die sometime. Whether now or 50 years from now, what is the difference? (Quote by Achilles in "TROY".)

People with the following medical conditions should not be diving:

Insulin dependent diabedes
Asthma
Epilepsy or cerebral palsy
Chronic heart disease or PFO

Its a short list, and easy to memorize.

 

[cobaltbabe]

I am one of the concerned friends. Please note that I don't want EM to end his diving, I just want him to be as safe as he can be. I too would like all the information on this for my own information. I know EM is very careful when he dives and checks his BSL all the time. He also has hand signals if he is feeling low.

 

[pipedope]

The determination of what conditions do or do not prevent diving should be made by a doctor who is versed in both the ailment and diving physiology.

For many conditions it depends on the individual, the condition they have, the severity and the selection of ways to control and treat the condition.

IOW Blanket statements are not useful.

For general information you can contact DAN.
Detailed information, treatment, and the choice to dive or not needs to be between the doctor and patient.

 

[GoBlue!]

People with the following medical conditions should not be diving:

Insulin dependent diabedes
Asthma
Epilepsy or cerebral palsy
Chronic heart disease or PFO

Its a short list, and easy to memorize.

Before I'd make a blanket statement like that, I'd rather suggest that anyone with those medical conditions should be required to have an examination and consultation with a physician very familiar with dive medicine prior to diving. There's a great deal of controversy regarding some of those diagnoses, and I think a patient should discuss their specific condition with a dive physician. Not all asthmatics are identical, "chronic heart disease" is a term with essentially no medical meaning, etc.

Jim

 

[crpntr133]

I have a dive buddy that is diabetic. The only " problem" that we have is the fact that he sucks down his tank. His doctor told him it has something to do with the lining in his lungs not working the same as "normal" since he is diabetic.
If the doctor has cleared him to dive then I don't have a problem with it, as long as I know about his condition before. This would be more for his safety than mine.

 

[Mako Mark]

I know a few diabetics who dive with no aparent trouble.

I have heard of a resort (in the US virgin islands I think) that caters secifically to diabetic divers. I dont have the details, but I am sure there are diabetic bbs that may point you in the right direction.

As far as I know the original "ban" on diabetics learning to dive was made by BSAC in the seventies after a diving accident. The victim was a diabetic and died of an AGE (arterial gas embolism). How those are connected I dont have a clue.

The logic most people quote for diabetes being a contraindication for diving is that unpredictable or falling blood sugar levels could lead to unconciousness which underwater is generally followed by drowning and death.

 

[IndigoBlue]

Before I'd make a blanket statement like that, I'd rather suggest that anyone with those medical conditions should be required to have an examination and consultation with a physician very familiar with dive medicine prior to diving. There's a great deal of controversy regarding some of those diagnoses, and I think a patient should discuss their specific condition with a dive physician. Not all asthmatics are identical, "chronic heart disease" is a term with essentially no medical meaning, etc.

Jim

The terms are stated in the NAUI medical forms.

 

[IndigoBlue]

I know a few diabetics who dive with no aparent trouble.

I have heard of a resort (in the US virgin islands I think) that caters secifically to diabetic divers. I dont have the details, but I am sure there are diabetic bbs that may point you in the right direction.

As far as I know the original "ban" on diabetics learning to dive was made by BSAC in the seventies after a diving accident. The victim was a diabetic and died of an AGE (arterial gas embolism). How those are connected I dont have a clue.

The logic most people quote for diabetes being a contraindication for diving is that unpredictable or falling blood sugar levels could lead to unconciousness which underwater is generally followed by drowning and death.

Good logic, about the logic most people quote, since drowning can ruin your entire day, just like AGE.