Scuba Diving Article

Scuba Diving with Diabetes and Other Health Concerns

While just about anyone who is in reasonably good physical shape is fit enough to be a Scuba Diver, Diabetes is one of the few health condition that can actually prevent a person from Scuba Diving in fact until recently people with Insulin Dependant Diabetes were actually banned form scuba diving. The conventional medical thinking being that a diabetes scuba diver who went into insulin shock while below the water faces the very real threat of death of serious injury. Also since that person's buddy relies on him, the diabetic diver also poses a threat to the safety of the buddy, not to mention forces the buddy to take heroic action should a problem relating to the condition occur.

However in recent years dive medicine experts have rethought the ban, and now while Diabetics are not prohibited to dive, they still need to proceed with a fair amount of caution. Dr. George Burghen, Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Tennessee, explains the problem with diving with diabetes is threefold. "The effect of diving on blood sugar levels is not truly known. Although persons with diabetes may participate in strenuous sports above the water, little data have been gathered on the true incidence of hypoglycemia during scuba diving. The procedures by which divers with diabetes can dive safely have not been defined, and the numbers of divers on whom appropriate observations have been made is insufficient to draw firm conclusions regarding the safety of diving for individuals with diabetes."

DAN, the Diver Alert Network, an organization whose mission is to study and advance Dive Medicine and dive related health issues makes several recommendations for divers with diabetes. According to DAN: Individuals with insulin dependant diabetes, even if it is under control should be allowed to dive but not without restrictions. Divers with diabetes should be examined periodically for complications of their disorder that disqualify them on the grounds of additional risks.

In general, diving with diabetes is not recommended for patients who are on any medications, which can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). In addition divers with diabetes should realize that insulin requirements could change substantially with demands of exercise like scuba diving. The diver with diabetes should be well acquainted with the effects of exercise on their blood sugar and their tendency towards hypoglycemia before considering diving. The absolute ban on divers with insulin dependent diabetes is under review and is country specific. Consult your local dive medical agencies for details.

Diabetes also occurs with certain other co-morbid conditions such as hypertension. People with hypertension or high blood pressure often take medications such as ACE inhibitors and or Beta Blockers, both of which can lower ones stamina and ability to exercise. Ace inhibitors to a far lesser extent, but Beta-blockers can reduce the heart's capacity for exercise and therefore can significantly affect your ability to exercise. In addition, if medication restricts the heart's function during exercise, there can also be an increased risk of loss of consciousness, which could prove fatal underwater. Divers with high blood pressure should consult their physician