Mike-Air

As a child, I was pudgy and I am worried that I may have done some damage to myself in childhood. I was wondering, if you have type 2 diabetes, is there no way at all you can fly? I am going to get my medical next week.

Noah Werka

You can get a medical if your Diabetes is controllable without the use of insulin(needles). If you have been diagnosed with Diabetes you will be required to have an A1C blood test within 60 days of your medical. If the results are in the "Normal" range you should not have any problem getting a medical. Proper diet along with weight loss is an important part of controlling Type 2 Diabetes.

vagabond

Mike, are you saying you have been diagnosed with Type 2 already? Your post did not suggest that.

Mike-Air

nope, im in the "what if" stage, because I have a few diabetic symptoms.

CRJ-200

I'm no expert here, but if you don't actually have diabetes when you get your medical I don't know what the problem would be.

HSLD

Aside from the urinalysis that would detect symptoms of Diabetes

Mike, get to a health care provider ASAP and get treated. The FAA will waiver diabetes on a class medical IF it's controllable. Attending to your health is much more important than trying to second guess the FAA - if that's what your waiting for?

The bad news is: if you have diabetes it won't go away and can be deadly if you ignore it. The good news is: it's treatable and waiver-able by the FAA up to a point.

Take care & good luck

CRJ-200

Ok, never mind.

c2wagner

Does anybody know if a statement of demonstrated ability would ever be issued for somebody who needed, either dietary supplements, or insulin to control diabetes? And if so, would that still be enough to obtain a first class medical? The reason I ask is because both my parents are diabetic, and I'm worried I wasted a lot of money getting as far as I have only to find out I might get diabetes and lose any possibility of flying for an airline.

skycowboy

Now I do beleive you can also get a waver these days if you do have insulin dependent diabetes... But you need to be well controlled! I met Mike hunter last year at the Indy Air Show, super fellow http://www.flightfordiabetes.com/navigation/bio.html

If you got it get your self a good physcian and try and get your medical back. But look here, just because I said this, doesn't mean "hey ok you can still get a medical so go out and eat whatever you want"... because as someone said it can be fatal, and if you think you got it, go get tested they can tell you in no time. Its so preventable man. But if you do get it, it will be a pain in the a$$ - could affect your heart, eyes, anything. So just get your self taken care of. Now if you don't have it and your worried, get out and do some walking and some excercising, you don't have to jog. 1000 steps a day greatly reduces your chances of getting it.

Good luck with it and keep us posted.

slaveship

You can only get a Class 3 physical if you are insulin dependent. I am 3 years post diagnosis and the FAA is very liberal on the A1c where as your real doc will not be. Your A1c should be south of 6.5 but the FAA will want it less than 9. Your real doc will tell you that the FAA guidelines are truly unsat and dangerous. If you can jump on it now, do it. Lose weight, exercise, and above all else eating a balanced carb diet is the most important. Pills can help but you will need to do the rest. PM me if you want more info. Good luck.