Most branches are going to require that you have a tight control on your diabetes, A1C less than 7, and letters from your commanders and physicians stating that you are fit to serve, and remain deployable if you are requesting deployment.
Take the example of one National Guardsman who wanted to go to Afghanistan with his unit. He submitted one waiver, which was approved. However, they changed the rules and revoked his waiver. This time, he submitted another waiver. He got approved, and was able to deploy to Afghanistan with his unit. Here is a summary of his story:. He is evidence that as long as you can prove to the military that you are in control of your disease and not the other way around, that you can make it through the grueling process and get approved.
It is going to take dedication and perseverance, but it can be done. Mark got help from the American Diabetes Association and went before a medical review board. He got his A1C down to a 6. Mark did have some set-backs while deployed with his unit to Iraq for 18 months. His insulin pump was crushed and he had to start taking up to 16 injections per day with regular, not insulin, needles in order to stay in range with his blood sugars.
He had to wait a month for a new pump to be delivered, and he had an episode of low blood sugars that his unit buddies had to help him out of. He went through sleep deprivation and the stress of long night watches that raised his blood sugars 1.
The Marines has Captain Nick Lozar, diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and placed on an insulin pump after 10 years of service. He went through the waiver process. His first hurtle was the medical board. His advice for those active military personnel that are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and wish to remain in active service is to find as many doctors and superiors that you can to sign off that you are fit for active duty. His particular active duty occupation as a logistician made it possible for him to stay in active duty.
He makes a point. If you want to join the military I hope you can follow your dreams and do so! Sergii Vasyliuk MD on June 10, During her time at St. After obtaining her nursing degree, her first job out of school was on the vascular surgery floor, where she saw many people with diabetes lose their limbs. She worked as an RN for 22 years in public health in South Carolina.
In her spare time away from educating people about diabetes, she continues her passion by writing about diabetes. I got my blood test back in October of and my test came back and read that my a1c is right at 5.
I plan on going to meps for the marines in July of this year.. Their first test for diabetes is a simple urine test using test strips that show results instantly. As long as the strip does not become dark brown you should be fine.
The urine test detects sugar attached to dead red blood cells your body is excreting through the urine. If you do not pass this test they will ask you to come in another day usually the following week to test again. Tresiba Review. SMs with diabetes completed 11, deployments of greater than 90 days from to Of these, 4. Most Twenty percent deployed with an HbA1c between 7.
In the overall population and within each military service, there was no significant change in HbA1c before and after deployment.
Those who deployed between 91 and days had a decline in HbA1c from 7. BMI declined from HbA1c did not seem to deteriorate during deployment, but they also did not improve despite a reduction in BMI.
Concerning trends included the deployment of some SMs with much higher HbA1c, utilization of medications with adverse safety profiles, and the lack of HbA1c and BMI evaluation proximal to deployment departures and returns. However, for SMs meeting adequate glycemic targets, we demonstrated that HbA1c remained stable, supporting the notion that some SMs may safely deploy with diabetes. Improvement in BMI may compensate for factors promoting hyperglycemia in a deployed setting, such as changes in diet and medication availability.
Future research should analyze in a prospective fashion, where a more complete array of diabetes and readiness-related measures to comprehensively evaluate the safety of deploying SMs with diabetes. Continuation of military service is possible among active duty service members SMs in the United States U. Multiple factors affect this decision, including occupation and severity of disease. A study from to examining prevalence of diabetes among SMs demonstrated that, among those age 45—64, 2.
It is logical that diabetes is specifically identified in the DoDI as a high-risk condition since both disease decompensation and certain diabetes medications can cause incapacitation. The deliberations surrounding the decision to deploy a SM with diabetes may be a difficult one for a military provider, compounded by the scarcity of data depicting how SMs with diabetes fare in deployment. There are multiple factors to consider, including the achievement of glycemic targets prior to deployment, potential for decompensation, presence of comorbidities, and safety profiles of medications.
Our group has previously published findings on the pre and postdeployment glycated hemoglobin HbA1c among U. Air Force SMs with diabetes 3 , but similar studies and data on other services are lacking. The cohort was selected to include active duty SMs from the U. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps with at least one deployment lasting greater than 90 days between January 1, and December 31, , and a diabetes diagnosis during the deployment dates.
The first day of the first month that a SM registered a diagnosis of diabetes was considered the first day that a SM had diabetes. Only deployments that began after that day were included in this analysis. SMs who became pregnant or received a pregnancy related diagnosis between 6 months before their deployment began and 6 months after their deployment ended were excluded from our analysis.
BMI measurements and blood samples for HbA1c were obtained at military treatment facilities for either pre or postdeployment medical evaluations, or other healthcare encounters that may or may not have been related to deployment.
Only BMI and HbA1c results recorded in the period of 90 days before deployment or 90 days after return were included.
If more than one measurement were collected in the pre or postdeployment periods, the maximum value in each period was used for the analysis. ICD-9 and ICD diagnosis codes were used to determine the presence of comorbidities within the day period before deployment.
Similarly, therapeutic class codes from the American Hospital Formulary Service were used to determine the presence of a prescription for diabetes-related medications in the day period before deployment. These flags were computed for each individual and each deployment. Analysis was conducted using R version 3. To build a description of the population, univariate measures were made for each of the recorded measures. Pairwise t -tests were then used to determine if there were changes in HbA1c and BMI scores in the periods before or after deployment.
From to , SMs with diabetes from the U. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps participated in 11, deployments lasting greater than 90 days. Our analysis focused on those who had both an HbA1c and BMI checked within 90 days of deployment and within 90 days of return, of which 4. The majority of the total population The most common age group was 41—50 years old, followed by 31—40 years old. The preponderance of male and enlisted SMs were expected given the gender and rank distribution of the U.
Armed Forces. Those in the Army deployed for an average duration of days, Air Force personnel for days, Navy personnel for days, and Marines Corps personnel for days.
The majority of the population required diabetes medications Insulin-users comprised 5. The majority Likewise, no significant change in HbA1c was seen when the population was analyzed separately based on military service Fig. HbA1c before and after deployment. Otherwise, there were no significant changes within the other services Air Force, 6.
For the total population, there was a statistically significant decline in BMI Members from the Army and Navy appear to have driven this decline BMI before and after deployment. The number of SMs in each category was 80, , 82, and , respectively. HbA1c declined from 7. In this retrospective analysis of HbA1c levels and BMI obtained before and after overseas deployments among active duty SMs with diabetes, we found no significant change in HbA1c and a significant decline in BMI among those with available data.
Recognizing that medical deployment screenings may have relied on HbA1c checks only, we also analyzed those with HbA1c but lacking BMI data. Nevertheless, the mean HbA1c in this group was just above goal at 7. The vast majority of SMs required a medication for diabetes, including a few on insulin, which is a medication of special interest in a deployed setting due to its refrigerated storage requirements and potential to cause hypoglycemia.
The second most common medication type, sulfonylureas, is also unfavorable due to its association with hypoglycemia, but its prevalence was expected given the prevailing prescribing practices during our study interval. The results of this study differed from a prior retrospective analysis conducted by the same authors comprised of U.
Air Force personnel only. In contrast to the current study, that study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in HbA1c after deployment. However, BMI reduction was concordant. In the previous study, the analysis was not limited to those with concurrent HbA1c and BMI data; having either a pre- and post-HbA1c or a pre- and post-BMI satisfied the inclusion criteria.
However, in the current study, the analysis was limited to those with concurrent pre- and post-HbA1c and BMI data. Diabetes can ultimately lead to heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, or amputation of the lower extremities.
The exact causes of type 1 diabetes is unknown. The body is deprived of insulin which is attacked in the pancreas. It is unable to get carried into the immune system where it normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses. Some doctors believe type 1 diabetes is a combination of genetics and other environmental factors not clearly understood yet.
On the other hand, type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes is when the cells in your body become resistant to insulin and therefore the pancreas is unable to create enough insulin to overcome the resistance. It is a really good idea to get tested for diabetes, especially if you are considering the military.
In fact, some people with diabetes do not have symptoms immediately and therefore are unaware of the disease. The earlier you can learn of a diagnosis, the better your odds of survival just like any deadly disease. In the past, it was very difficult to get enlisted in any branch of the military with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Make sure you touch on all of the branches and try to find and talk about the official policy for each. While the standards are still fairly strict for new enlistees, the military has loosened its regulations on active duty members diagnosed with diabetes after enlistment. If current soldiers with diabetes can remain vocal advocates and demonstrate they are able to still perform well in combat, it could lead to the U.
Military becoming even more lenient regarding diabetes in the future. I hate not being able to serve my country. Kenny, I respect your passion for your country.
I understand how you are so greatly impacted. There are beautiful brains out there that this country needs and they are throwing opportunities for themselves away.
Everyone should have a right to fight and die for their country if they do choose to. These injustices should be fought against just as the women fought for their right to fight in the military as equals.
My son aged 19 was training for joining the military when he was diagnosed with type 1. It has been his life dream to join,his grandfather was a Sargeant in the Vietnam war and influenced him greatly.
If they will keep soldiers who are in then they should also find more support roles Etc and better deployment for those who have the condition already. It makes no sense. Your email address will not be published.
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