Sunday 15 April 2007

Diving with Diabetes – an update


Following on from my previous blog item posted in February, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society (UHMS) and the Divers Alert Network (DAN) have published consensus guidelines resulting from their 2005 co-sponsored workshop, ‘Diabetes and Recreational Diving: Guidelines for the future.

What was historically considered an absolute contraindication to diving is now being openly supported for those who are medically evaluated and who carefully monitor their condition and meet certain criteria. The view held by the medical community on people who have insulin-dependent diabetes was relaxed and those using dietary control for their diabetes should easily be able to meet the guidelines.

Note that the report has issued guidelines and not rules and should only be used as toll for the physician when evaluating a person with diabetes for diving.

The full ‘Diabetes and Recreational Diving: Guidelines for the Future’ can be ordered by contacting DAN Americaswww.diversalertnetwork.org

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