[Diabetes and diving]

ABSTRACT

A 35 year old man, who is a diver, comes to your office. He had a hyperglycemia in his last check up. He asks you if he can steel dive in spite of hyperglycemia. We reviewed the recent studies about diabetic persons who dive. Recent studies have shown that well controlled diabetic persons may be permitted to dive, But if they have any problems such as diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, neurological and cardiac problems, diving is contraindication. So the older persons with type 2 diabetes should be evaluated carefully for diabetic complications. Diabetic persons before diving must be educated about hypoglycemic signs and symptoms and how to manage it under the water. One of the guidelines for management of diabetic divers is Burghan and Vincent protocol for before and after diving, but unfortunately a little research about diabetic divers has been done before. Our data on plasma glucose [PG] response to diving are limited, particularly for adolescents. Our data about type 1 diabetes and diving is very limited