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Old September 5th 10, 11:36 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Mxsmanic
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Posts: 9,169
Default FAA Medical Question

A Guy Called Tyketto writes:

Then you should know very well that hypoglycemia is not a risk
for insulin dependent diabetics.


Persons taking insulin or oral hypoglycemics for diabetes are always at risk
of hypoglycemia if the dosage is incorrect. The risk is high enough that
diabetics treating their condition with insulin or medication are advised to
keep a source of glucose close at hand, in case they make themselves
hypoglycemic.

The risks of hypoglycemia and DKA are the bases for the status of diabetes as
a generally disqualifying condition if it is treated by insulin or oral
medication.

Never said it did, but being hypoglycemic does give me better
insight into the matter, which you do not have.


No, it does not, any more than being pregnant makes one a qualified
obstetrician.

Additionally, nobody is simply "hypoglycemic"; there is always a cause for
symptomatic hypoglycemia and it is virtually never a continuous state.
Prolonged symptomatic hypoglycemia can cause brain damage, and must be
aggressively treated and corrected. Asymptomatic hypoglycemia is harmless in
itself but merits investigation.

The most common cause of hypoglycemia in adults is an overdose of insulin
during treatment for diabetes.

Symptomatic hypoglycemia may justify denial for medical certification, until
and unless the cause of the hypoglycemia can be identified and corrected so as
to prevent acute episodes during flight.

At one time (1970s mostly, I believe), "hypoglycemia" was a fashionable
condition, like fibromyalgia or peanut allergies, but its popularity has waned
today. As with all fad illnesses, most of the people who thought they had it
didn't.