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Pilots flying with insulin‐treated diabetes
Author(s) -
RussellJones David L.,
Hutchison Ewan J.,
Roberts Graham A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
diabetes, obesity and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.445
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1463-1326
pISSN - 1462-8902
DOI - 10.1111/dom.14375
Subject(s) - insulin , diabetes mellitus , underpinning , aviation , medicine , diabetes management , intensive care medicine , type 2 diabetes , aeronautics , engineering , endocrinology , civil engineering , aerospace engineering
Abstract People with diabetes treated with insulin have often faced blanket bans from safety‐critical occupations, largely because of fear of incapacitation due to hypoglycaemia. Recent advances in insulin therapies, modes of administration, monitoring, and noninvasive monitoring techniques have allowed stereotypical views to be challenged. The aviation sector has led the way, in allowing pilots to fly while on insulin. Recently, countries that have traditionally been opposed to this have changed their minds, largely due to the increasing evidence of safety. The purpose of this review was to gather all available information to update clinicans. The physiology and pathophysiology underpinning glucose regulation and the management of diabetes in the air allowing certain insulin‐treated pilots to fly are discussed.