Invicta Divers SCUBA Diving School Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. I have Type 1 Diabetes (insulin controlled).   Can I SCUBA Dive ?

A. There are about 1.6 million people in the UK who are diagnosed with Diabetes (thats more than 1 in 40).   Type 1 Diabetes is where your pancreas does not produce any (or enough) insulin to control your blood glucose levels.   As a result, your blood glucose levels can become dangerously high or low.   People with Type 1 Diabetes manage their condition by a disciplined regime of injecting insulin combined with dietary management and regularly checking blood glucose levels.  

So what do we do about it ?   We ask everyone to complete a medical checklist before they come to SCUBA Dive.   If you have any conditions listed on the checklist (Diabetes is one) we ask you to check with your GP to confirm that there are no medical reasons why you should not dive.
Your GP may exclude you from diving, suggest sensible restrictions, or give unqualified approval.   You remain responsible for correctly managing your condition and making the decision as to whether you are fit, or unfit, to put yourself forward for each dive.

In the past, just the mention of diabetes would have categorised you and excluded you from SCUBA Diving.
Happily, nowadays people are treated as individuals.   If your diabetes is properly managed, and you have not experienced a hypoglaecemic or hyperglaecemic event within the last 12 months requiring intervention or assistance from anyone, you are likely to be able to SCUBA Dive.
  
On the day of the dive, you'll carefully check and log your blood glucose levels before and after your dive.   You must bring your medication along with you, and explain to your buddy and dive supervisor how to recognise and what to do if you experience the onset of a hypoglaecemic episode.   You must understand and accept that sometimes some people will be unqualified or unable to take on the additional responsibility.

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