Diving

When I first went snorkeling as a teenager, I found myself constantly wanting to explore beyond where the snorkel could take me. I knew, deep down, that one day I’d get my scuba certification. Shortly after my 18th birthday, I was dealt a difficult blow when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes. And with that news, I discovered there were extremely strong recommendations against diving with T1D .

I was disappointed, but also realized that it was just part of my new normal. I set out to try activities like skydiving, bungee jumping and hang gliding, but always held a soft spot for anything water related.

Years later, I was planning a trip to Thailand and a friend mentioned how amazing the diving was there. For kicks, I did a search on diabetes and diving—and learned that the Divers Alert Network (DAN) had since put together a list of guidelines for recreational diving with diabetes. Depending on the circumstances, people with T1D could now dive if they met certain criteria and took specific precautions.

For one, it’s vital to have blood sugars in a specific range while diving. A primary danger of diving with T1D is the risk of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, underwater. While hypoglycemia can easily be treated by eating something with sugar above water, being below water clearly makes that impossible. Divers also need to avoid the other extreme of hyperglycemia, aka high blood sugar, since it can lead to ketoacidosis.

It was the ultimate balancing act.

After reading through the guidelines and understanding what was involved, I decided to take the plunge and sign up for my open water certification after getting sign-off from my doctor. During my course, I ended up becoming an unofficial diabetes educator for my instructor and fellow classmates. I’d initially worried that my diabetes would be a burden to them, but I realized that they were supportive and curious— and happy to help if needed.