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Diving with diabetes

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Scuba Diver Editor-in-Chief Mark Evans presents the latest information on diving with diabetes from the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN).

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Hi Scuba Diver fans, and welcome back. We have had a long relationship with Divers Alert Network, and in this video, I’ll present their advice on diving and diabetes, and review the latest research and guidelines for those suffering from the disease. For many years, the medical community have advised against diving with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease which affects the endocrine system, the collection of glands that produce hormones regulating your metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things.

The main threat of diabetes is the effect it has on your pancreas, the organ which produces insulin and glucagon. These are the two hormones which balance and maintain your blood glucose (blood sugar). As of 2015, an estimated 415 million people already suffer from diabetes worldwide and by 2040, the number of diabetics is estimated to rise to around 642 million.

Does this mean diabetics are not allowed to dive?

Absolutely not! But let’s run you through important information you should know. Having diabetes means either your pancreas is not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body are not responding properly to the insulin produced.

There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes

Entails the pancreas's failure to produce enough insulin, which leads to insulin dependency (needing insulin injections). The cause is currently unknown.

Type 2 diabetes

Begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to respond to insulin properly, which may also lead to a lack of insulin. This type of diabetes can be controlled by maintaining a healthy diet and by taking oral medication. The most-common cause is an unhealthy lifestyle, excessive body weight and lack of exercise. The reason why medical experts have advised against diving with diabetes is due to the fragile and potentially life-threatening conditions diabetics may encounter when suffering from high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Just so you understand, insulin (and physical exercise) lowers your blood sugar, and glucagon (as well as foods with glucose) raises your blood sugar. Diabetics may often suffer from overly high and low sugars, which puts them at a much higher risk of suffering from an accident underwater. This means that diving underwater in a state of hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia may lead to loss of consciousness and, in some cases, even death. So naturally, medical experts have raised a red flag when it comes to diabetics diving, especially when their illness is unstable or newly discovered.

Common risks, symptoms and effects of suffering from high and low blood sugars include:

  • Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): Extreme thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, hunger, blurred vision, nausea, drowsiness, slow-healing wounds, vomiting.
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): trembling, fast heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, anxiousness, paleness, hunger, weakness/fatigue, headache, fainting. When in doubt, diabetics must immediately check their blood sugar using a blood glucose monitoring device, and either eat or drink something with sugar when blood glucose is low, or take the appropriate medicine to counteract high blood glucose. Symptoms and precautions are difficult, if not impossible, to identify and manage underwater, and due to the scope of these potential problems caused by diabetes, diabetics possess a greater threat when it comes to diving safely.

In the past, diving with diabetes was definitely considered inadvisable. Even today, some medical experts strongly disapprove. However, in recent years, many divers with diabetes have successfully proved the medical industry wrong, proving to the community that it is possible to pursue your passion for diving without jeopardising or sacrificing your health and safety – by taking the right precautions. When diving with diabetes, it is important to know your limits and always speak with professionals to get an objective opinion of your health condition before attempting to dive underwater. No matter how controlled your condition may be, diabetics cannot dive without restrictions.

The same applies to people without diabetes, of course, yet diabetics must accept that their risks are higher – even if their diving skills are equal to non-diabetics. Suffering from diabetes should never prevent anyone from exploring the world, but the right safety precautions should always be taken. The diving and medical community has evolved a great deal. Whereas once suffering from diabetes meant you were banned and forbidden from diving, attitudes have luckily changed. Results from research by DAN Europe suggest that to prevent worsening of hypoglycaemia and to correctly interpret hypoglycaemia-like symptoms while diving, diabetic divers could benefit from real-time Blood Glucose (or BG) monitoring during their dives.

During a study, 26 dives were recorded with no statistical difference between the BG recorded every five minutes pre, during and post dives. Furthermore, this study was a perfect example of how technology can help diabetics increase their dive safety using a CGM Monitor in a waterproof case. In such cases, blood glucose levels are seen in real-time on a display, allowing the diver to continuously check their BG. Another study by the DAN Europe Research Division found similar results, stating diving does not imply significant risk of hypoglycaemia even if the continuous monitoring showed a progressive lowering of blood glucose levels. These findings further encourage diabetics to try diving.

From the studies conducted by DAN, a general conclusion has been obtained: a real-time continuous glucose monitoring system used by diabetic divers during diving can provide immediate information on blood glucose values and trend, with a significant increase in diving safety and with an increase of sports medicine knowledge and interest in this specific field. Provided you do not suffer from any long-term complications, diving with diabetes is totally acceptable provided you undergo regular checkups and keep your diabetes well controlled to avoid any potential threats.

Let’s take a look at DAN’s recommendations for diving with diabetes.

  1. Speak to a physician and diabetes/diving specialist before attempting to dive.
  2. Always wear a diabetes bracelet so that fellow divers are aware in case of an emergency.
  3. Carry oral glucose with you at all times and make sure your buddy is aware and has some too.
  4. Have a glucagon injection on site (at the surface) in case you lose consciousness.
  5. Eat food with slow-digesting carbohydrates before diving to ensure a balanced glucose level.
  6. Measure your blood glucose immediately before and after diving.
  7. Avoid depths greater than 30m – Nitrogen Narcosis can be confused with Hypoglycaemia!
  8. Avoid diving for longer than 60 minutes.
  9. Log your dives and take note of your blood sugars for future reference.
  10. Do not dive in cold waters, strong currents or conditions which demand strenuous activity.
  11. Ensure you have a stable blood sugar with Type 1.
  12. Consider using a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system to check your BG in real-time.
  13. Stay hydrated and healthy before, during and after diving.
  14. Remain relaxed and enjoy the experience.

Are you a diver with diabetes?

Or a diabetic looking to maybe get into scuba diving?

Leave your comments below, and if you have a question, fire away – if we can’t answer it, I am sure some of our ever-growing subscribers will be able to assist.

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Pat Wallace
Pat Wallace
2 years ago

Hi
Just found your seen your diving with diabetes YouTube. I was on holiday in Lanzarote in 2019 I didn’t know we had to have a medical to dive ,so I went to a centre that did medical for diver. Once I told the doctor I was pre diabetes and on tablets he said no diving for me anymore.
So that was the end of diving for me.
Great to see this so I must find a UK doctor to sign me off ok to dive.

Terry Crocker
Terry Crocker
2 years ago

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in November 1986, since then I have done 1,968 dives. In fact, it was my case that changed the rules on diabetics diving with the BSAC, facilitated by Peter Wilmshurst, the then chair of the British Sport Diving Medical Committee. I was also helped by the fact that I had already been diving for 19 years when I was diagnosed. As I was then only dietary controlled, he agreed with me, that there was little chance of a “hypo” underwater. However, as a precaution, I have always made sure that I am slightly “loaded” with carbohydrates before I dive and have had no issues wrt diabetes and diving. I have done dives as deep as 48.9 m (for 64 mins) and as long as 91 mins; in September 1992, I did 2 dives of 25.5m for 82 mins and 23.9m for 80 mins all on single 12l tanks without any issues. I was nearly 74 when I did my last dive (due to Covid 19).

I give you this information to give encouragement to others not to give up if they get diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes; Type 1, with insulin injections, is a whole different “ball game”, but I have known a couple of divers that have even dealt with this challenge.

Pat Wallace
Pat Wallace
2 years ago

Hi Terry
Thanks for that info . If it’s ok I will copy this and show it to my doctor next time I see them if they ever see people any more.
I am looking to see if I can do some in uk .
Only dived in Lanzarote , West of Ireland and in the Hover dam
Great diving good luck to you.
All the best and tanks again
Pat

Jinx
Jinx
1 year ago
Reply to  Pat Wallace

After the post a year ago I am sure you have recommenced diving however I just wanted to help. I have type 2 diabetes which is insulin and tablet controlled.

I have not had any issues and the important thing is to make sure you have glucose supplies and know how to administer under water (gel) or tablets on the surface.

Making sure your BG levels are slightly elevated do help with and potential drops due to exertion.

Most normal doctors will not sign you off if medicated due to outdated information so a medical referee is needed which are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Laura
Laura
1 year ago

I am looking for suggestions for a cgm diving setup? I would love to be able to monitor my bs underwater but am not sure where to start. I already do all the other things.

Scuba Diver Magazine
Admin
Scuba Diver Magazine
1 year ago
Reply to  Laura

I would suggest contacting DAN Europe and speaking to one of their diving doctors. Maybe they will be able to help more on this setup.

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Mark Evans
Mark Evans
Scuba Diver's Editorial Director Mark Evans has been in the diving industry for nearly 25 years, and has been diving since he was just 12 years old. nearly 40-odd years later and he is still addicted to the underwater world.
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