Tod
Contributor
While for some this may not be considered a disability, this seems like the best place on this forum to post this question.
I have been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 25 years and a certified diver for over three years. I have recently completed a Solo Diving class through SDI, complete with two open water "check-out" dives with the instructor. After the completion of the course, I went on a weekend boat dive down in the Channel Islands with a group sponsored by my LDS. It was during this trip that I ran into a problem.
After the second full day on the boat (12 dives so far for the trip) I went to bed around 10:00 PM. It turns out I had a very light dinner (few carbs) as I didn't care for the meal and because I was pretty tired, I didn't bother to try and fill-up on soda or snacks. Just before crawling in my bunk, I mistakenly took my regular dose of insulin before bed (out of habbit) and also neglected to test my blood sugar (too lazy). [This is the point in the story where I made my mistake. No denying it and no need to question it.]
Sometime in the night, my blood sugar levels dropped (as would be expected) after the all the day's activities and partially due to the lack of calories during dinner. (I even did a night dive after dinner!) Anyway, as I slept I apparently started making some funny sounds (gurggling) and woke up some of the others near my bunk. When they tried to wake me I did not respond. This caused a bit of a panic as most assumed it was some sort of DCS or a stroke! My friend who was there with me (and who is also aware of my condition) informed them that I was a diabetic. The boat crew (by then) responded by providing me some glucose and I soon came out of it. Unfortunately, the Coast Guard was called and they sent a chopper out to the boat!
Short version: Once they showed up, that was the end of my dive trip. Even though I was able to explain what had happened and was then able to walk around on my own, they insisted I take a ride in their chopper. I figured they were not bring me back and I was not happy.
At the hospital, they took some blood tests and found that I was going to live and soon let me go. Unfortunately, I had no money, few clothes, and no idea how I was going to get back to where I started (the Santa Barbara Harbor). I was taken to some place in Oxnard. (Longer story about how the GREAT hospital staff there helped me out!)
Now on to the issue:
A few weeks later, I ran into my instructor from the Solo Diving class. He told me he heard about my adventure and began to question whether or not I should even be diving! Further, he was going to hold my Solo Diving certificate until he reconsidered this, citing the fact that had I had such a reaction while I was diving I would likely not survive. True. But the particular circumstances that led to my issue were self-induced (by my neglect to test myself and by the fact I took too large of a shot). I told him that normally I am aware of where my blood sugar levels are BEFORE I don my scuba tank and that I wouldn't even think to dive if I felt I may become hypoglycemic at any time during the dive. He didn't seem convinced. It was only at this point that I felt like I was treated like I had some sort of disability.
Finally, he settled upon letting me have my certificate if I could produce a letter from my doctor - which I now have.
Has anyone else ran into any sort of question over being a diabetic?
I have been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 25 years and a certified diver for over three years. I have recently completed a Solo Diving class through SDI, complete with two open water "check-out" dives with the instructor. After the completion of the course, I went on a weekend boat dive down in the Channel Islands with a group sponsored by my LDS. It was during this trip that I ran into a problem.
After the second full day on the boat (12 dives so far for the trip) I went to bed around 10:00 PM. It turns out I had a very light dinner (few carbs) as I didn't care for the meal and because I was pretty tired, I didn't bother to try and fill-up on soda or snacks. Just before crawling in my bunk, I mistakenly took my regular dose of insulin before bed (out of habbit) and also neglected to test my blood sugar (too lazy). [This is the point in the story where I made my mistake. No denying it and no need to question it.]
Sometime in the night, my blood sugar levels dropped (as would be expected) after the all the day's activities and partially due to the lack of calories during dinner. (I even did a night dive after dinner!) Anyway, as I slept I apparently started making some funny sounds (gurggling) and woke up some of the others near my bunk. When they tried to wake me I did not respond. This caused a bit of a panic as most assumed it was some sort of DCS or a stroke! My friend who was there with me (and who is also aware of my condition) informed them that I was a diabetic. The boat crew (by then) responded by providing me some glucose and I soon came out of it. Unfortunately, the Coast Guard was called and they sent a chopper out to the boat!
Short version: Once they showed up, that was the end of my dive trip. Even though I was able to explain what had happened and was then able to walk around on my own, they insisted I take a ride in their chopper. I figured they were not bring me back and I was not happy.
At the hospital, they took some blood tests and found that I was going to live and soon let me go. Unfortunately, I had no money, few clothes, and no idea how I was going to get back to where I started (the Santa Barbara Harbor). I was taken to some place in Oxnard. (Longer story about how the GREAT hospital staff there helped me out!)
Now on to the issue:
A few weeks later, I ran into my instructor from the Solo Diving class. He told me he heard about my adventure and began to question whether or not I should even be diving! Further, he was going to hold my Solo Diving certificate until he reconsidered this, citing the fact that had I had such a reaction while I was diving I would likely not survive. True. But the particular circumstances that led to my issue were self-induced (by my neglect to test myself and by the fact I took too large of a shot). I told him that normally I am aware of where my blood sugar levels are BEFORE I don my scuba tank and that I wouldn't even think to dive if I felt I may become hypoglycemic at any time during the dive. He didn't seem convinced. It was only at this point that I felt like I was treated like I had some sort of disability.
Finally, he settled upon letting me have my certificate if I could produce a letter from my doctor - which I now have.
Has anyone else ran into any sort of question over being a diabetic?