Canasia Sports

Just interested in other peoples experience with scuba diving trips.  I am a longtime diver and go every summer.  I have had Diabetes for 10 years and have good control with oral meds, diet and exercise.  I experience only very rare (not very)low blood sugar (once a year maybe) for which I am always prepared, even on a dive trip.  I have discovered one problem not related to my own particular situation.  Dive trip operators will not allow you to dive if you check the diabetes box on the health form.  (smoking?  hey no problem!)  I see no problem with a non insulin using diabetic in good physical condition going on dives if they do not have any problems and are aware and prepared for the dangers of low blood sugar.  My solution to this problem is to simply leave the box unchecked.  This relieves them of any liability that they might be worried about.  Diving is part of my exercise program along with backpacking, mountaineering, hiking etc.  I am interested in others experience with this.  Thanks,  Ken

Just interested in other peoples experience with scuba diving trips. I am a longtime diver and go every summer.  I have had Diabetes for 10 years and have good control with oral meds, diet and exercise.  I experience only very rare (not very)low blood sugar (once a year maybe) for which I am always prepared, even on a dive trip.  I have discovered one problem not related to my own particular situation. Dive trip operators will not allow you to dive if you check the diabetes box on the health form.  (smoking?  hey no problem!)  I see no problem with a non insulin using diabetic in good physical condition going on dives if they do not have any problems and are aware and prepared for the dangers of low blood sugar.  My solution to this problem is to simply leave the box unchecked.  This relieves them of any liability that they might be worried about.  Diving is part of my exercise program along with backpacking, mountaineering, hiking etc.  I am interested in others experience with this.  Thanks, Ken I'm Type 1. I learned to scuba dive back in high school, getting some gym credits from the local community college. They were very reluctant to accept me into the class, and it's understandable: glucometers were not in wide use, and I was a bit young for the program (barely 18). But I got in and got certified: that let me do a very few dives, including a cave dive, before my life got busy with college and I gave it up as too expensive. It's difficult to manage: the physical intensity of diving, even of simply breathing under pressure, and of the excitement of the dive. Diving is hard physical work, and exhilarating: detecting a low blood sugar at such a time can be quite difficult, and getting the diabetic to the surface or preventing them from doing something stupid if they become confused can be quite as dangerous as nitrogen narcosis. Coupled with our history of circulation problems in long-term diabetes, I'd want to make sure the instructor or divemaster is well-versed and themselves well-trained in how to work with us. Me, I was the only one the instructor had dealt with, and got to be a test case. It made me be extra careful indeed, but I was weird in a bunch of other ways. I seem to have a lquite large lung capacity (as measured in some class experiments in an MIT course), and a tendency to sink even with a very full breath due to a lot of muscle and very little fat on my _frame_. (I'm not built quite that way anymore, alas!)

Just interested in other peoples experience with scuba diving trips.  I am a longtime diver and go every summer.  I have had Diabetes for 10 years and have good control with oral meds, diet and exercise.  I experience only very rare (not very)low blood sugar (once a year maybe) for which I am always prepared, even on a dive trip.  I have discovered one problem not related to my own particular situation.  Dive trip operators will not allow you to dive if you check the diabetes box on the health form.  (smoking?  hey no problem!)  I see no problem with a non insulin using diabetic in good physical condition going on dives if they do not have any problems and are aware and prepared for the dangers of low blood sugar.  My solution to this problem is to simply leave the box unchecked.  This relieves them of any liability that they might be worried about.  Diving is part of my exercise program along with backpacking, mountaineering, hiking etc.  I am interested in others experience with this.  Thanks,  Ken   Very few dive operators know what diabetes is. You are correct in going with the no tell program. The two major concerns for the diabetic are 1. unexpected exertion, and  2. cold. It's a good idea to avoid major deco obligations. In the case of unexpected exertion (currents, recovery, etc.) it's a good idea to carry a tube of instant glucose, the kind with the twist-off top. It's easy to ingest under water. If you are doing deco, it is essential to carry glucose. Cold is the bane of diabetic divers: most underestimate how much bg will drop in cold water. It's a good idea to carb up before diving, and take a banana or Coke between dives. DAN (you DO belong, of course) has some ongoing studies going on. A very good source of information (from real doctors) is found at 10 Foot Stop http://scuba-doc.com/scubaclinic/ Enjoy

Cold is the bane of diabetic divers: most underestimate how much bg will drop in cold water. It's a good idea to carb up before diving, and take a banana or Coke between dives. DAN (you DO belong, of course) has some ongoing studies going on. A very good source of information (from real doctors) is found at 10 Foot Stop http://scuba-doc.com/scubaclinic/ Excellent idea!