![]() Lipid levels:Having low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels (usually below 35 mg/dl) and/or high triglyceride levels (usually above 250 mg/dl) has been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.Diet:Research has suggested that a diet high in saturated fats might be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.This may be due to the tendency to have a less active lifestyle as you age and the weight gain that subsequently occurs. Age:The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases as you age, particularly after the age of 45.The reasons for this increased risk are not yet understood. Ethnic background:Type 2 diabetes is more common in African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaskan natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.Lack of exercise or physical activity therefore increases your risk of weight gain, higher glucose levels, and insulin resistance. Additionally, exercise helps control weight. Sedentary lifestyle:Exercise helps the body use glucose and increases cells’ sensitivity to insulin.Having higher quantities of fatty tissue increases the resistance of the body’s cells to insulin. Obesity:Obesity or increased weight is one of the best risk factors for development of type 2 diabetes.Family History:Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes increases your risk of developing the disease.The insulin resistance that characterizes type 2 diabetes is thought, like type 1 diabetes, to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental issues. As a result, blood glucose increases, and the pancreas tries to keep up with production of more insulin, soon becoming dysfunctional. Insulin is the hormone that moves blood glucose to the cells where it can be utilized. The cells of the body, particularly those of the fat, liver and muscle tissue, have some degree of resistance to the effects of insulin in type 2 diabetes. ![]() We’ll confine this discussion to type 2 diabetes, as that form of the disease impacts 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases and typically has a later onset. The net result is that the body’s cells are deprived of their energy source and the blood sugar or glucose builds up in the blood. There are three primary forms of diabetes-type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes- and, in each case, the body is unable to effectively move the glucose that results from the metabolism of the sugar and starches into the cells of our muscles, brain and other vital tissues. If you sign your Basic Med documents and you know you may have a medically disqualifying condition, you’ve broken the law.ĭiabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is the name of a group of diseases in which the body is unable to properly utilize blood sugar (glucose) for energy. But if you want to stay legal, you need to fess up. If diabetes management has become a part of your life–and it’s well controlled with medications–you and your doctor may decide it’s OK to fly. Jumping through those hoops will be a challenge but well worth it for qualifying pilots who want to continue to fly.Ĭlearly, checking “yes” on item 18K should prompt a discussion with your examining physician and lead to an opportunity to solicit comments or explanations. Bottom line: A diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is a disqualifying condition, but pilots can retain their privileges with a special issuance. We also consulted the FAA circular on the subject of diabetes mellitus, and circled back to AOPA’s pilot resource area on the topic. UHN offers a wealth of content on the subject, but these two articles, How to Avoid Diabetes, and What You Should and Shouldn’t Eat If You Have Diabetes, are particularly useful. For this article, AVweb consulted sister website University Health News to get a broad overview of diabetes symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
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