Diving with Diabetes
Tue, 2010-03-09 12:54
My husband and I have both done an intro dive while overseas and are dream is to gain our recreational diving license so we can dive together in our local waters. My husband is a diabetic and requires insulin, he has not had a hypo or hyper for years (20yrs) and is a well manage diabetic with no complications at this stage in his life. He is 52yrs of age.
Recently my husband went for his dive medical locally and was all good until doctor realized he suffered from diabetes and said that he is just not allowed to get his license. I have been looking online and asking questions of other divers, etc and all the info I can find does not say that diabetics cannot gain a dive lic.
I have download form “Guidelines for Recreational Diving with Diabetes – Summary Form” from DNA, which my husband fits all the criteria. He is aware of the risks and still wishes to pursue his dive lic.
My questions is can you receive a dive medical in Australia if you suffer from diabetes?
Diving with diabetes is a complex subject. Can I refer you to our recent chapter as posted in the thread on 'asthma'. There is I hope a clear discussion on our current thinking.
In brief, a person with mature onset diabetes and not taking insulin may pass a medical after careful assessment of any end-organ damage and cardiovascular fitness. A person taking insulin is in a quite different risk category and at present would not be able to pass a dive medical in Australia.
Watch this space though.....
Mike Bennett