3rd class medical urinalysis?

Crash Lander writes:

I once had to have a medical exam as part of a job application. I made the
mistake of eating McDonalds for lunch about 20 minutes before the exam. I
had 2 burgers, large fries, and a large coke. My urine sugar levels were
through the roof.

Technically there should be no glucose in your urine at any time. But
everyone has a threshold beyond which something will spill over. If there was
more than a trace of glucose in your urine, it wouldn't hurt to get a GTT to
check for glucose intolerance or DM, if you haven't already done so. Just be
glad it didn't happen for an aviation medical.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Look it up.

Your blood sugar is a separate matter from urine glucose levels. This is
unnecessary unless you already ARE a diabetic in which case you've got
bigger problems than a 3rd class medical.

Typically glucose does not "spill" into the urine unless your blood
glucose exceeds 200-250. Normal is in the 80-100 range, and its not
uncommon to find diabetics on tight control who keep their sugar under 120.

ANY detectable glucose in the urine means your blood glucose is too
high. Your blood glucose wont get THAT high regardless of your intake
unless you have ineffective glucose production or utilization.

I would bet your doc can tell you are fasting when you take your test.
When you dont consume glucose, you burn fat, which causes ketones to be
produced. Ketones are READILY excreted in urine, and are also tested for
on pretty much any urinalysis or urine dip/screening.

Dave


That's why I never eat or drink anything other than water before the
test. After a meal your blood suger will read higher. It would really
be crappy to fail that little test and spend 6 months trying to prove
to the FAA that you are not diabetic.

-Robert

I always drink extra coffee before the medical. I'd be terribly
embarrassed to have no pulse (not to mention that it might be
disqualifying), and coffee really gets my heart going.

Coffee and the caffeine it contains can raise blood pressure and cause
diuresis.

Now who to copy if I ever want to pose as a humorless schmuck!

Not that this would be an issue for me, but when I went for my class III
medical last year, they only checked for diabetes in the urine.

I don't know about class II or I medicals.

Steve

"Finn" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi all, going for my medical soon and was wondering if I will be
subject to a drug-screen urinalysis as well as other urine tests. I've
tried looking for the info but could not find it. thanks, Jon

Dave S writes:

I would bet your doc can tell you are fasting when you take your test.

There's nothing wrong with fasting. Indeed, a fasting glucose level is more
important than a postprandial level for diagnosis of DM and late complications
of hyperglycemia.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

They only check for sugar and blood as far as I know, unless
you report some other issue. Drug screening is done by
employers and after accidents.


"Viperdoc" wrote in message
et...
| Drug screen is not part of the FAA pilot's exam.
|
| JN, MD
| FAA AME
|
|

On Apr 16, 2:16 pm, Sylvain wrote:
Walt wrote:
I've always assumed it included drug screening.

if they did, they would charge you for the extra test,
haven't seen that on my bill yet. For the third class,
I reckon they just check whether your urine caramelises
or not...

--Sylvain

That's true. The 135 guys are paying a lot of money for the FAA
required drug test. They also have to pay for the drug test for the
A&P, the avionics guys and the IA that does their inspections. One guy
with one airplane has to pay for about 5 drug tests if he wan'ts to be
135.

-Robert

Sylvain wrote:
wrote:

Why be concerned with a drug screen? The two main reasons why people
might worry about a drug screen a
1) An idiot who is using illegal drugs which will prevent him/her from
being a good pilot
2) An idiot's attempt to hide a serious medical condition that would
impair his/her ability to fly

If niether of these apply to you, then are you trolling?

Do you have teenage kids or live near some or spend some time on campus
(just to name a few obvious hazards but same goes if any of your
acquaintances smokes any); just walking in a room where someone has
smoked pot is enough for you to test positive; think about it if
your job depends on peeing in a cup once in a while...

Sounds like an urban myth to me. Is that the excuse your teenage
children gave you for their positive test ;-)

Cheers

On Apr 16, 5:50 pm, Mxsmanic wrote:

Eating bagels made with poppy seeds can give you a positive drug test, even
though you've taken no drugs.


Old urban myth. You'd have to eat many bagels (or just scarf down a
few handfuls of seeds) to test positive.