Diving with Diabetes

[Burke]

An acquaintance of mine would like to start scuba diving, however she is diabetic ( I don't know what type, but she has to give herself a shot before every meal) and every dive instructor she has talked to has said that she has to have a note from her doctor, and her doctor doesn't know anything about diving and can't give her any advice.
Does anyone have any information about whether diabetes can cause any problems with diving?
I would really appreciate any information that she could take to her doctor or to an instructor, thanks.

 

[BillP]

Howdy Burke:

Questions about diabetes and diving come up periodically. A quick search of the board revealed this helpful thread:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5225&highlight=diabetes

There are other good threads in the archives too that you can find by using the search function here:

http://www.scubaboard.com/search.php?s=

Scubadoc has information on diabetes and diving on his website at:

http://scuba-doc.com/endmet.html#Diabetes_and_Diving

A lot can be found on DAN's website at:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=21

and:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=18

and:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=126

and:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=51

and:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=32

The BSAC's quidelines can be found at:

http://www.bsac.org/medical/g_diab.htm

Your friend's doctor can contact DAN for guidance, or alternatively your friend could contact DAN to try to get a referal to a diving medicine doctor for an evaluation. DAN's contact info can be found at:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/contact/

You don't have to be a member of DAN to use their services. (Although membership for divers is a very good idea.)

If you still have more questions after reviewing all of this, let us know.

HTH,

Bill

 

[Burke]

thanks for all the great links. Sorry about not searching for previous posts before asking my question, I usually do, just forgot I guess.

 

[BillP]

Hey, no problem. I hope you don't mind me not trying to re-invent the wheel each time a question comes up. It's just quicker and easier sometimes to refer to the archives. Always happy to try to cover anything that's not already in the forum when I can, though.

Bill