Type 2 Diabetes
 

Just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (9.something)but no obvious symptoms. Have reported to AME and grounded myself. Have been on tablets for 6 days so far. What happens next? Assuming OK when will I be able to fly again?

I have been diagnosed with type 2 for the last 20 years. I believe you will not be able to fly for the next 3 months, until your next HB1aC test to see if it is in control and eye tests to check for retina damage and anything else and I think you may need to be signed off by an AME. Some drugs are OK with the CAA one is Metformin others can cause problems like comas so needs checking. HB1aC is a 90 day moving window of blood sugar levels so 6 days won't cut it. My simple advice is 1. lose weight get a BMI of less than 25, 23 best. 3. Take as much Metformin as you can stand, can be very antisocial at high levels may need gas mask or running shoes for a loo run. Try not to take drugs that push your insulin production it's the road to being on insulin. 3. Cut out as much carbohydrate as possible spuds in any form are bad. 4. Short Burst exercise is good lowers blood sugar, Last I take a food supplement, Chromium Picolinate from Holland & Barratt used by body builds to shift fat to muscle helps to reduce blood sugar and helps with endurance, I find it helps. Best of luck.

TV program Trust me I'm a Doctor did tests and showed that 20ml of olive oil a day will significantly reduce the HB1aC I just take a swig from a bottle,not rapeseed or sunflower oil as they showed no change. It got mine really down. Also 20ml of natural apple cider vinegar in a bit of warm water, drink it then same amount of water as it is 5% acid. That done eat a bowl of natural porridge ( not that instant rubbish) everyday. They also recommended KEFIR yoghurt I buy Robico, it's a probiotic but instead of 12 million whatever it is it has 14 trillion. Again I take a swig from the bottle, €1.29 a litre. I have also cut out booze apart from an occasional pint and no sugar. I have lost weight, sleep better, waist down and am fitter than I was 15 years ago. Eyes better no floaters. You can probably never get rid of D2 but by your own actions and eating sensibly you can drive it down, down, and down. It's up to you, good luck.

Thanks both. Licence due for revalidation middle June. Have just done SEP check flight but only 6 solo hrs. Will I get an extension do you think?

If you are allowed to drive a car, you can fly in the UK on a PPL. See CAA website for online application form. The conditions for self assessment are in the application form.
If you are a student, ask your AME for advice on your position.
I failed my Class 2 in November 2008. I got it back in February 2009. I'm EASA Class 2 at present.
Exercise is important.
Best wishes.
Edited to add: still not on any medication.

Thank you.

My blood sugar levels had been progressively increasing over the last couple of years and eventually my AME (ex-SAS - an interesting character!) put me onto Metformin. He said it had the least unpleasant side-effects and one beneficial one - weight loss. He said "Chicks are taking it, purely for that reason!"

I've been taking Metformin for about nine months and combined with reasonable care about what I eat, has kept my fasting blood sugar levels in the range of 6.0 to 7.0 mmol/litre.

Losing weight is a good thing too, for reducing blood sugar levels. The pancreas produces less insulin with age, so less weight means more insulin per kilo.

Not quiet true that if you can drive a car then you can pilot an aircraft, there are no lay byes to pull into and diabetes can catch you out with low or high blood sugar levels, both can put you in a coma or poor mental abilities. I all ways fly with a couple of bananas in the flight bag just in case of low levels, I start shacking if low. PS Some fruits are a no no normally including Bananas, Pineapple and Grapes. Apple is ok in moderation. I find the NHS food guide lines for type 2 are a joke and out of date. Recent research is pointing to a calorie restricted diet, 800 a day for 8 weeks can take you out of type 2. I also note that Vets are better on nutrition than the NHS they cannot afford to make mistakes the NHS just buries theirs. Last when I speak to doctors they are surprised that after 20 years diagnosed with type 2 that I am not on insulin and my last HB1aC was 6.9 which is a high normal so I must be doing something right.

To second the above, obviously anecdotal evidence is not a proof of anything, but a friend has just completed this 8 week regime successfully and is (for now) no longer Type 2.

One slightly irrelevent comment is that Metformin can give you depression which can be counteracted (as it did in my case) by vitamin B tablets.

FF

Me too.

I am type 2 as well, I don't take anything for it, the magic number one is looking for is the A1C - the measure over about three months, it is what shows if it is under control.

Personally I have never noticed any effect of being type 2 - I was diagnosed about eight years ago - decided to learn to fly, dropped some weight (for some read another person !! I am around 19 stone now and I am half the man I used to be. Got a 5.2 in the blood test ahead of my first medical - two of my doctors don't think I am type, but let up on the watching what I eat and the numbers creep up.

That said the worst I have had is a 6.7.

For what it's worth 9 was considered high if "normal" a decade ago, so the numbers are reducing.

Personally I have not had any symptoms of high or low blood sugars - on Horizon Flyers comment - I think I discovered the ultra low calorie thing myself with my dramatic weight loss, it really does work.

Best thing in my opinion is to avoid the metformin for as long as one can (assuming that one is getting diabetic side effects - vision in particular) and have it for when one gets older and needs it - an uninformed thing about building up tolerance to medications.

Generally with ANY medication one has to be taking it (no flying) for six months and a treating doctor's report confirming the absence of or details of any side effects, then a special issuance (FAA pretty sure same with EASA).

The important thing is that Type 2 does not or need not stop one flying - indeed with an FAA licence one can fly with Type 1.

Link to CAA medical self-declaration page, for flying non-EASA aircraft in UK airspace. Since August 2016.

https://apply.caa.co.uk/CAAPortal/te...m?formCode=PMD

Metformin
 

I took Metformin last year, numerous side effects.
Then I dramatically lost weight. Gave up Carbs, wine, beer.
10 kilo's less after 3 months, I was not very fat beforehand ! HBA.. test now OK.
Gin & Fizzy water seems to be alright as a drink.

Yep esa-aardvark carbs turn to sugar in your blood then with excesses insulin the liver turns it into fat to be stored away reducing carbs helps to break the cycle. The worst place for fat is internally around your organs so even if your slim you can still have high levels internally always worth losing a few pounds just in case. Mind you alcohol lowers blood sugar that's why you feel hungry after a few drinks.

Thanks for your replies. All very interesting.

I was diagnosed with T2 8 years ago first medical as i started to learn to fly.
Lost weight 19.5 stone down to 16.5 stone, no medication.
3 years ago my numbers started to creep up, started on the Metformin & statins,(by the way when you go onto Metformin, all your prescriptions become free of charge) grounded for ONE month only by my AME, no side affects no depression.
Now 15.5 stone, as few have said, cut down on potatoes & bread intake & eat smaller portions, should be ok, i drink 2/sometimes 3 pints of Lager, Sometimes a glass of red wine instead of lager, on a Saturday night with my Pub food & don't seem to have any problems. I Don't drink alcohol during the week as i'm a truck driver on late shifts.
Once on Metformin, you should be on Diabetic eye screening yearly.
Still flying Still have a Class 2 Medical.
Hope this helps.
:-)

SATINS: When I was diagnosed with Type 2 the doctor put me on statins and the side effects completely ruined my life with cramps, muscle weakness and leg nerve problems. He changed my prescription, same effects. I stopped using them and am now much fitter than I was but am left with week legs, cramps have gone but I wouldn't fly for some months. There was a excellent article in The Telegraph re side effects.

A1c rose to 7.8 but have now got it down to 4.2 through weight loss and diet. I may have a pint a week, but no spirits.

It's up to you to look after yourself and others have posted excellent advice.

I've been Type 2 for years with no problems.Metformin,fine.Apparently Gliclazide is not.Other drugs are available.It should not prevent you living/flying quite normally.

Diagnosed with Type2 in December 2008 age 67. Got Class 2 back by March 2009. No medication. Lost Class 2 December 2021 due to high HbAiC. Now flying on Declaration and taking Metamorphin.
My high glucose does not fit diabetes - I can walk for hours and still have high glucose with no food for 10+ hours. I was diagnosed without the glucose drink test.

Virto,

No need to apologize. It's good to see this old thread again, which I contributed to, almost exactly six years ago.

An update from me. Metformin keeps my blood sugar under control and I barely notice my minor dietary restrictions. I still eat fruit, chocolate, etc. and drink beer, all in moderation. Probably if I cut down on some of that I might lose weight! However, I still have a Canadian Class 1 medical.

Metformin is what I meant.