Diabetic Dive Doctor??

[bojaemela]

I am in need of a Central Florida phyysician that can sign off on my dive physical. I am an insulin dependent diabetic that wnts to learn scuba (open water..nothing too crazy :D). My doc won't sign off (he's too cautious i think). Please pass along the name of a central florida doc that knows diving and diabetes.
Thanks in advanced for your assistance.
Bob

[Doubler]

Contact DAN or Duke Dive Medicine. They may be able to provide a point of contact.

[knotical]

Although diabetes is no longer considered an absolute contraindication to diving, according to this set of Guidelines for Physicians used by several recreational scuba certifying agencies (Guidelines start on page 3, the quote below is from page 5): http://www.wrstc.com/downloads/10%20-%20Medical%20Guidelines.pdf

Severe Risk Conditions
The potentially rapid change in level of consciousness associated with hypoglycemia in diabetics on insulin therapy or certain oral hypoglycemic medications can result in drowning.
Diving is therefore generally contraindicated, unless associated with a specialized program that addresses these issues. [See “Guidelines for Recreational Diving with Diabetes” at www/wrstc.com and www.diversalertnetwork.org.]

Some information from DAN can be found:
DAN Divers Alert Network : Summary Form - Guidelines for Recreational Diving with Diabetes (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=74)
DAN Divers Alert Network (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.aspx?faqid=126)
DAN Divers Alert Network (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/news/Article.aspx?newsid=741)

If you haven't already, you might want to absorb this info and share it with your physician.