Diabetes??

[MattC]

I'm interested in changing careers and getting into aviation with the eventual goal of landing a job with an airline...

Thing is...I have type 2 diabetes. I dont require insulin, and the oral meds I'm on are approved by the FAA. Realistically, what are my chances of being able to get and KEEP a first class medical and eventually get on with an airline???

Has anyone had to deal with the same thing???

I really want to do ATP's PPL and Career Airline programs, but I dont wanna spend 50K if it's all for nothing...

HELP!!!!!!

[flyguy]

It sounds like you'd be able to get a medical for he time being. As for whether or not you can keep it, you'll have to talk to a doctor/AME about the prognosis of your condition because your guess is as good as any of ours. Only someone familiar with you and your condition can speculate whether or not it will get worse over time. I hope everything works out for you.

[ryanmickG]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm interested in changing careers and getting into aviation with the eventual goal of landing a job with an airline...

Thing is...I have type 2 diabetes. I dont require insulin, and the oral meds I'm on are approved by the FAA. Realistically, what are my chances of being able to get and KEEP a first class medical and eventually get on with an airline???

Has anyone had to deal with the same thing???

I really want to do ATP's PPL and Career Airline programs, but I dont wanna spend 50K if it's all for nothing...

HELP!!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry to here that man, my daughter was born with Type 1 Diabetes. As a flight instructor I still take her up and log time in her logbook knowing she wont get a medical. I know they are VERY close to finding a cure. Then she could be a pilot if she wishes to do so. You do need to go talk to an AME about this for the most accurate info, you can probablly call your local FSDO to get a defenite awnser. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[Kristie]

so you can't be a pilot if you have diabetes? why not? i hear they have those great insulin pumps now that you wear on your person 100% of the time...

[flyguy]

[ QUOTE ]
so you can't be a pilot if you have diabetes? why not? i hear they have those great insulin pumps now that you wear on your person 100% of the time...

[/ QUOTE ]
We don't ask why when it comes to the FAA. That's just the way it is. You also can't fly if you are on Zyban to stop smoking, but smoking is perfecly okay.

[ryanmickG]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
so you can't be a pilot if you have diabetes? why not? i hear they have those great insulin pumps now that you wear on your person 100% of the time...

[/ QUOTE ]
We don't ask why when it comes to the FAA. That's just the way it is. You also can't fly if you are on Zyban to stop smoking, but smoking is perfecly okay.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think Zyban like wellbutrin is an anti-depresant but i'm not sure on that.

[ryanmickG]

[ QUOTE ]
so you can't be a pilot if you have diabetes? why not? i hear they have those great insulin pumps now that you wear on your person 100% of the time...

[/ QUOTE ]

True but I think the technolgy is so new that it hasnt been blessed by the FAA yet, purly speculation.

We need to open the doors on stem-cell reserch wide open, but I guess thats for another thread.

INSULIN IS NOT A CURE!

[flyguy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
so you can't be a pilot if you have diabetes? why not? i hear they have those great insulin pumps now that you wear on your person 100% of the time...

[/ QUOTE ]
We don't ask why when it comes to the FAA. That's just the way it is. You also can't fly if you are on Zyban to stop smoking, but smoking is perfecly okay.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think Zyban like wellbutrin is an anti-depresant but i'm not sure on that.

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually Zyban and Welbutrin are the exact same thing. Since most insurance companies won't cover Zyban (insane if you ask me, just wait until they have to pay for cancer/emphazema(sp?) patients) many doctors will prescribe Welbutrin so help patients stop smoking.

So yes, Zyban is an anti-depressant, but its not taken for depression. I think the reason the FAA dosn't like anti-depressants is becasue someone who takes them is suffering from depression and is liable to commit suicide with 300 pax in the back. I think if they looked at it as a case by case basis, they can allow someone to take Zyban if they are not suffering from depression but simply want to quit smoking so they can keep their medical until their 60th birthday.

[kellwolf]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the reason the FAA dosn't like anti-depressants is becasue someone who takes them is suffering from depression and is liable to commit suicide with 300 pax in the back. I think if they looked at it as a case by case basis, they can allow someone to take Zyban if they are not suffering from depression but simply want to quit smoking so they can keep their medical until their 60th birthday.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now here's the backwards thing. Ever seen someone with clinical depression OFF their meds? I have: my wife. She takes Zoloft, and in addition to having to pay insanely high prices for the meds (there's a generic version available, too bad it's Canadian), she can't get her medical either. She's perfectly fine if she takes the medication, but if she doesn't THEN she has mood swings and manic/depressive episodes. So, I guess the FAA is saying that it's okay to be depressed as long as you don't take medication that makes you act normal. Hell, someone with undiagnosed depression could just as easily commit suicide with the 300 pax and do it holding a 1st class medical.

[ryanmickG]

I totally agree with you but I guess the FAA tries to see in the future, if 300 pax die in a crash and word gets out about anti-depresants, smoking or not the lawyers will have a field day. Guess thats the society we live in.