[GaryM]

Anyone have the skinny on diabetes and UL licences?

[Dyceman]

Hi Gary,

Transport Canada's website has complete info with respect to diabetes and whether a prosepective pilot could be considered fit for flight.

Follow this link for the information: http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Ca...betes/menu.htm


Basically, applicants with diabetes whose condition can be controlled by dietary measures alone are permitted to fly and hold all categories of licenses without any problem. If you need to take medication - you might still be able to fly, but with some limitations or conditions. Insulin dependancy pretty much grounds you.

Non Insulin Treated Applicants With Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Those applicants who can control their blood glucose by diet alone may be considered fit for all categories of licence, provided they have no cardiovascular, neurological, ophthalmological or renal complications of DM which could result in sudden or subtle incapacitation while exercising the privileges of their licence.

Applicants who require oral hypoglycemic agents to control their blood glucose may be considered for medical certification providing certain criteria can be met. These criteria are:

1. No episode of hypoglycemia requiring intervention by others in past 12 months.

2. The Applicants must have taken the hypoglycemic agent for a minimum of 6 months (3 months in the case of metformin and the thiolipinogones), and the dosage should have been stable for at least 3 months.

3. There must be evidence of stable blood glucose control for at least 3 months as measured by;

4. Glycated Hb (patient/upper normal ratio less than 2.0)

5. Blood glucose metering shows 90% of values greater than 5.5 mmol/L.

6. No neurological, cardiovascular, ophthalmological or renal complications of DM that could result in sudden or subtle incapacitation while exercising the privileges of the licence.

7. Blood glucose monitoring will be carried out using a memory chip glucose meter. This equipment together with a readily absorbable source of glucose will be carried by the applicant while exercising the privileges of the licence.

8. A vision care specialist assessment is required on initial application and every year thereafter.

9.A cardiovascular assessment to include an exercise electrocardiogram is required at the age of 40 and then 5 yearly to age 50. After the age of 50 it should be completed every two years. A resting ECG will be required yearly.

. . . hope this helps!

[Drake1024]

Actually having type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) does not basically ground you. There are provisions that will allow tightly controlled type 1's to get a category 4 medical which would allow them to get up to a recreational pilots permit. The limitations are as follows:
-recent history of A1c within 2 points of normal range
-3 month do***ented history of at least three sugar tests a day with no more than 10% being below 5.5
- No history within last 5 years of severe hypoglycemia requiring the intervention of another person
- Written reports from an optholmologist, cardiologist, and endocrinologist expressing no diabetic complications, and supporting your endeavor.
Than there are also requirements during flying such as a finger test every 30 minutes in the air, 30 minutes before takeoff and landing and appropriate actions for any sugar readings below 6.0.

Overall it is a very restrictive program, but I have been spending the last 3 months working on getting all of the requirements fulfilled and it has actually helped me take much better control over my diabetes. I am almost at the point where I can get signed of on the cat 4 medical. If you dream of flying it is within your reach. Hard work but within reach. Good luck.