New member of the diabetes club! :(

[Spbeyond]

Hello all! i am 21 years old, male and very new to diabetes. Diagnosed a little less than 2 weeks ago. I knew there was something wrong long before that but was in denial because I KNEW it would end my career and as I saw it at the time that would end ME. You see I am about $20,000 and 2 years into my training to be a pilot. The second someone said diabetes my worst fear was confirmed, a diabetes diagnosis automatically voids your medical certificate all pilots are required to have. I was devastated. My life dream was to be a pilot, I always had looked up and KNEW that was where I was going. Now I must accept the fact that because some sheet of paper somewhere says "diabetic" I will never have the opportunity to follow that dream. I am still struggling with the pain of that thought especially because I really believed that was my life calling and the only chance I had to be successful in life. I hope to find support advice and community here and hope to someday be able to return the help to others on this forum.

Well its time for me to go to work. (Graveyard) *eyeroll* I hope to meet all you in the next little while and maybe gleam some wisdom off of you all. Thank you.


Andrew H.

[mortis505]

Welcome. You have come to the right place. I find new info here daily and hope you will find it as useful as I do.

[catgalla]

Welcome Spbeyond to the forums. I'm so sorry to hear that you cannot become a pilot because of being diabetic. That really sucks. Hopefully maybe you can find something else that will interest you just as much that diabetes won't affect. There are a lot of knowlegeable and supportive people here. Good luck...:o

[Lynne59]

I have had diabetes for 15 yrs and have had to make many changes in my life. You will find something that will please you. Not in the same way as a pilot. Welcome here. This is the greatest place for support. I have been to many other sites and this is my favorite.
Lynne59

[xMenace]

Sorry about the career thing. That really sucks.

If it makes you feel any better, you may have saved yourself from a long boring career. Who knows. I hope you treat this as an opportunity and carry your skills to new ventures. I'm currently on my 2.5th career and am looking for number 3 soon.

The diabetes thing will take some adjustment, but it's not rocket science. It won't hold you back from 99+% of life. It really boils down to a matching game. Learn the rules, learn the targets, build your safety net, and follow the plan and you'll be fine.

Do you know you look just like Gangrel (http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/members/266.html)? Are you his twin?

[princesslinda]

Welcome Andrew! Glad you found the forum. Lots of great people hear. I'm sure you're quite devastated right now with all the changes that have taken place in your life in such a short time. I know you'll find lots of support and encouragement here.

Linda

[gettingby]

Hi Andrew and Welcome to the club. I know you will find a lot of helpful info and lots of friends. :)

[poper77]

Welcome!! My brother in-law also wanted to be a pilot. He came to the realization that most commerical pilots come from the airforce. And that it woulld be really hard to get a commerical pilot job right out of college - how many REALLY young pilots have you seen when flying? ANyway because he loves flying and planes he changed his major to ....I forgot the title but he now fixes and builds planes! He just graduated and got a job right away. He loves it!! There could be another career out there dealing with planes that you would love just as much!

[GhostRydr]

Hi Andrew,

Welcome to a great and supportive forum.

[Spbeyond]

Thanks for the welcome! By the way yes alot of pilots do come from the air force but its WAY less than it used to be expecially because they now require a 10 year commitment to train you as a pilot and yes it would have been hard but everything good is hard. Boring? no way! I had my eye on a sweet job in the Caribbean flying between the islands on pontoons. SWEEEEETTT... I was in it for the adventure not flying complicated buses in the sky.

[princesslinda]

I'm sure you're crushed at not being able to fly....but, you will find something else that will give you equal joy....one thing you can say about life "it goes on," and you will as well. Diabetes doesn't define you, you are still the same person as you were before diagnosis...probably much healthier, too, as diabetes sort of forces you to take better care of yourself. Hang in there! I look forward to hearing about your "Plan-B" and where it takes you.

[shockme]

hi andrew and welcome!wow-that really sucks that you can't fly..sorry!like some ahve suggested-maybe a career plane-related?hopr to see you here alot.take care,trish

[HiImDan]

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/9.gif

[owlyn]

I believe you can get a pilot's license if you get a clearance letter from an FAA approved doctor. My wife's uncle has been a diabetic for years and has a pilot's license. He used to be a Navy pilot.

[Spbeyond]

Its true you can if you are not insulin dependant. And its still very hard. (I am on insulin) But eventually I might have a chance to get my third class medical meaning I could fly small aircraft for fun. Now I just gotta figure out what I am going to do to pay for it ;)

[Just_Plain_John]

Its true you can if you are not insulin dependant. And its still very hard. (I am on insulin) But eventually I might have a chance to get my third class medical

Are you a Type 1 on insulin forever, or a type 2 who needs insulin due to resistance ? As I understand it, the ban is on holding a Commercial license - so a Type 2 controlled without insulin (though still liable to hypoglycemia) would still qualify.

I'm a type 1, so no G-IV seat for me :( .

Did your doctor do a C-peptide test to determine your type ?

[andypoo]

Don't you know that when one door closes,another opens? You have all the opportunities in the world. Keep your eyes open, there's something in this vast universe for you to have as your career. Maybe it will be many things that you'll do,maybe just that one perfect thing to do the rest of your life,but it'll come along for you,I'm sure. I hope only the best for you!