6 replies to this topic

[ScubaKim]

This past weekend I just found out that my little friend at the cottage was diagnosed with Diabetes. She is 7 years old. Very upsetting.

Her family and myself are all divers. She has talked about diving ever since she knew how to swim. Does anyone know if diving is still possible with Diabetes? Or is this a risk that she can no longer do. Of course she can't start diving for many years to come but is the dream still possible?

[Walter]

It's possible, but determined by your doctor on a case by case basis.

[lollystoy]

Sorry to hear about your little friend. I am an Insulin dependent diabetic and an active diver. . I have to do some things to get prepared for a dive like make sure I have a good solid meal beforehand, and check my sugar level before and after the dive. I always make sure I have glucose tablets or tube of glucose in my dive gear bag. If I don't feel well or am tired then I know better than to try to dive i will sit it out. She will soon learn how to read her body and will know what she needs to do to take care of herself. As long as she takes care of herself she should have no problems diving in the future. I had a meeting with my Diabetic Specialist and discussed how to handle diving right before taking the lessons. You can PM me if you have any other questions. I'll be glad to help anyway I can.

Sea-Ya,

Lollystoy

[Starfish Sandy]

I became diabetic at 7 too - and like Lollystoy - with proper preparation prior to diving - I can dive with the best of them! If I can help out with anything - let me know - They make great sugar free candy now - they didn't 37 years ago!!! It's tough on a child - good luck!!

Sandy

[ScubaKim]

Thank you sooo much for the responses. I am absolutely thrilled that she can still enjoy the finer things in life.

Knowing this makes facing her disease easier for me and when I pass it on to her family I know they will be thrilled. THANK YOU.

Sugar free candy ? I must give it a try, thanks for the tip !

[No Pressure]

Diagnosing and closely managing Diabetes early on will do wonders in preventing/ minimizing the physiologic complications that the disease causes. These are effects on the eyes, kidneys, heart, neurologic state, and others. Those who keep their diabetic condition in close check can lead full, happy, healthy lives doing all the activities that they enjoy, including diving!
Looks like you have some great advisors on this board to help your friend. Since she will need a doctor's release, I suggest finding a diving pediatrician or pedi endocrinologist to give her the OK.

[peterbj7]

I'm no expert on this, but I do know that one effect of diabetes is a "thickening" of the blood, with the red platelets becoming "sticky". As I understand it, medication mitigates this effect but doesn't eliminate it. I wonder whether this predisposes diabetics towards DCS? Anyone competent to give a view?

The most immediate risk of insulin-dependent diabetes is a hypo under water, and as well as the pre-dive preparation mentioned above, all these divers that I know take some fast-release high sugar food down with them, such as a Mars bar. Does anyone know of any glucose tablets that are coated so they don't dissolve before they're needed?

At my dive center, I don't say "no" automatically to divers who declare they're insuling dependent, but I give a provisional "no". I talk to them in slow time, and if it's clear that they have their diabetes under control and have dived quite a lot with diabetes without problem then "no" becomes "yes". It has to be a matter of trust, and if I feel they're trying it on "no" stays "no".

I don't have any particular concerns over non-insulin-dependent people diving, but I do ask them to dive reasonably conservatively and make very slow ascents.

Do understand I'm not trying to play "doctor", but I do have to make a decision and don't want to give a default "no" to people who are experienced and clearly have their lives under control.

Another point. The HSE in the UK is a Government agency that amongst other things controls all diving involving money and has become very incisive over the past few years - they have been appalled at the number of sport diving accidents. They define the medical examination that anyone earning any money from diving (however obliquely) must pass to work under water. For several years until quite recently any suggestion of any sort of diabetes was a no-no, but now they have relaxed their position and will allow diabetics to teach or work for money if on a case-by-case basis they are regarded as being safe. So things are changing.

Edited by peterbj7, 18 October 2004 - 05:34 PM.