Hypoglycemia?

"Happy Dog" wrote in message
m...
"EFIS2" wrote in message

snip

If not, maybe you should disqualify yourself on the grounds that you have a
legitimate concern that you may not be fit to act as PIC for uncertain
reasons.

This is good advice. If you have ever had an episode that you believe left
you in a condition you could not have operated a plane, don't fly unless you
are certain the problem has been fixed.

Danny Deger

On Apr 7, 2:43 pm, "EFIS2" wrote:
I'm not really optimistic given
that the condition often causes weakness and lack of awareness if I do
not keep my blood sugar up.

You already know the answer, it sounds like you do not think you are
fit to fly (at least as PPL) presently. It doesn't matter what the
doctor says, if you are unconvinced of your ability to keep control
then you should not be flying.

If your condition is *well* controlled and you know that for the
duration of any given flight that your condition will not create any
undue danger, then there should be little reason that the *FAA* would
prevent you from obtaining a medical with restrictions. Other
countries are not so lenient when it comes to hypoglycaemic tendancies
and you may find that it is not possible if you are not in the US.
There is not much chance of CPL let alone ATPL, but never say never.

I am a Type 1 Diabetic, similar to your malady, I'm not in the US, I
have no chance of a PPL where I live (for the forseeable future), but
I am satisfied in myself that my control is such that for any flight I
would conceivably undertake I am at no more danger than a regular
person, and so I, and my doctors, have no qualms about flying under
this country's microlight (similar to sport pilot) regulations. Of
course, testing, and carrying glucose snacks (Jelly Beans will do) is
mandatory.

In the US, even individuals with type I diabetes are able to get a third
class medical with a waiver. There are a lot of misperceptions and anecdotes
regarding the difficulty of getting a medical.

In the pubs, the AME's who are also pilots are listed, suggesting that AME
pilots may be more sympathetic to helping an individual get a medical. On
the other hand, there are certain conditions that absolutely disqualify
people from flying- and in these cases, it is not the fault of the AME.

It is reasonable to ask an AME (or better yet, look up the medical
requirements on the FAA website) about the medical requirements as well as
any concerns you have regarding your ability to fly. On the other hand, if
you willfully hide a known medical condition that might affect your flying
capabilities, you may also open yourself up to a lot of liability issues
that might affect both your and your family in the case of a claim.

Again, MX is not a pilot, physician, or AME. Make your own judgments about
all of this, but if you want to fly it is always worth making the effort,
which is more than can be said for him.

In article . com,
EFIS2 wrote:
I am a person with reactive hypoglycemia (gets weak/confused if does
not eat healthy snacks/meals regularly) - I'm sure there is not much
chance of being certified to get a PPL or go onto being an airline
pilot - I just thought I'd ask if anybody knows what the deal is, or
if anybody knows about this problem. I also have bad eye floaters,
I'm sure that would be a problem too. I'm not really optimistic given
that the condition often causes weakness and lack of awareness if I do
not keep my blood sugar up.


erm.... I have the same and I just need to avoid simple carbs (sugar,
white bread and pasta) to be ok. Reactive hypoglycemia is just your
body overreacting to sugar and pumping too much insulin.

I dont need to keep by blood sugar up. I need to keep it low. if it goes
high, my body get its too low and I feel bad. if I dont eat, it normalizes
in an hour or so. If I do eat sugar, the cycle repeats and I feel worse.



--
Eduardo K. |
http://www.carfun.cl | Freedom's just another word
http://ev.nn.cl | for nothing left to lose.
|

There's still another side of this that should be discussed. It's one
thing, and a 'good thing', to learn in an informal way if your
condition will prevent you from passing the medical. Do this before
making an appointment for an FAA medical exam because as has been
pointed out once you start that process the data is in the FAA's
records..

But, if you find your condition renders you unable to for example
drive a car from time to time -- that you have to pull off until you
regain control -- don't even think about becoming a pilot. There's no
pulling off to the side if the condition goes out of control, and it's
likely -- I'm not sure of this -- conditions of flight may provide an
environment that makes your condition more likely to become overt.

So I'm suggesting YOU make a mature decision. Is your condition such
that you're at some greater risk to have a medical condition put you
and your PX at risk? If so, stop now, even if you can find a way of
passing the physical.

Good luck!

On Apr 8, 6:53 pm, wrote:
There's still another side of this that should be discussed. It's one
thing, and a 'good thing', to learn in an informal way if your
condition will prevent you from passing the medical. Do this before
making an appointment for an FAA medical exam because as has been
pointed out once you start that process the data is in the FAA's
records..

But, if you find your condition renders you unable to for example
drive a car from time to time -- that you have to pull off until you
regain control -- don't even think about becoming a pilot. There's no
pulling off to the side if the condition goes out of control, and it's
likely -- I'm not sure of this -- conditions of flight may provide an
environment that makes your condition more likely to become overt.

So I'm suggesting YOU make a mature decision. Is your condition such
that you're at some greater risk to have a medical condition put you
and your PX at risk? If so, stop now, even if you can find a way of
passing the physical.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Regarding the post above --- I am fine as long as I eat every couple
of hours or so. If not, I may start to feel bad. So, I have never
blacked out. If I were to let myself go too long without eating a
snack, I start to feel weak. I never black out though, just feel
terrible. If that were to happen, I could eat something sweet and I
would be pretty much alert again. Although, usually I avoid all sugar
and simple carbs unless i really need them.

I am a little dissapointed with some of the responses given my desire
to fly. P.S, i'm not interested in sport flying.
I am hoping that my condition will improve in the future - I'm working
on trying to reverse this condition. I hope not to have it for life.
Perhaps I will wait until I see an improvement in my situation.

Thanks Again
Efis2

EFIS2 wrote:

I am a little dissapointed with some of the responses given my desire
to fly. P.S, i'm not interested in sport flying.
I am hoping that my condition will improve in the future - I'm working
on trying to reverse this condition. I hope not to have it for life.
Perhaps I will wait until I see an improvement in my situation.

Thanks Again
Efis2

By not being interested in sport flying do you mean you are looking for a
commercial or ATP rating in the future? If so I wouldn't get my hopes up too
high. You say you've had the problem for quite some time but hope for
improvement. Do you think there is reason that it will clear itself? If it
cleared up via medicine you will still have to report it and while you might
get a waiver for class 3 getting a higher one is unlikely without a complete
clearing up of the condition.

EFIS2 writes:

Regarding the post above --- I am fine as long as I eat every couple
of hours or so. If not, I may start to feel bad. So, I have never
blacked out. If I were to let myself go too long without eating a
snack, I start to feel weak. I never black out though, just feel
terrible. If that were to happen, I could eat something sweet and I
would be pretty much alert again. Although, usually I avoid all sugar
and simple carbs unless i really need them.

The straightforward solution would be to ensure that you always fly with a
suitable supply of glucose or anything else you can use to maintain your blood
glucose. As you well know, nobody suddenly drops to the floor from
hypoglycemia, with no warning, so you'd have plenty of time to munch on
something if you felt symptoms coming on. And actually being incapacitated
would be very unlikely indeed.

I am a little dissapointed with some of the responses given my desire
to fly. P.S, i'm not interested in sport flying.
I am hoping that my condition will improve in the future - I'm working
on trying to reverse this condition. I hope not to have it for life.
Perhaps I will wait until I see an improvement in my situation.

See an endocrinologist, have your condition carefully assessed, and discuss
the options with him. If he feels that you can fly safely (and especially if
he's prepared to put this on paper, which you could pass on to the FAA), why
not go for the license now?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

You don't need any paperwork to buy a blood glucose meter,
take readings to see what you really have when you start to
feel "weak or tired" and go from there.

Having to eat every few hours is not abnormal.



"EFIS2" wrote in message
oups.com...
| On Apr 8, 6:53 pm, wrote:
| There's still another side of this that should be
discussed. It's one
| thing, and a 'good thing', to learn in an informal way
if your
| condition will prevent you from passing the medical. Do
this before
| making an appointment for an FAA medical exam because as
has been
| pointed out once you start that process the data is in
the FAA's
| records..
|
| But, if you find your condition renders you unable to
for example
| drive a car from time to time -- that you have to pull
off until you
| regain control -- don't even think about becoming a
pilot. There's no
| pulling off to the side if the condition goes out of
control, and it's
| likely -- I'm not sure of this -- conditions of flight
may provide an
| environment that makes your condition more likely to
become overt.
|
| So I'm suggesting YOU make a mature decision. Is your
condition such
| that you're at some greater risk to have a medical
condition put you
| and your PX at risk? If so, stop now, even if you can
find a way of
| passing the physical.
|
| Good luck!
|
| Thanks for all the suggestions.
|
| Regarding the post above --- I am fine as long as I eat
every couple
| of hours or so. If not, I may start to feel bad. So, I
have never
| blacked out. If I were to let myself go too long without
eating a
| snack, I start to feel weak. I never black out though,
just feel
| terrible. If that were to happen, I could eat something
sweet and I
| would be pretty much alert again. Although, usually I
avoid all sugar
| and simple carbs unless i really need them.
|
| I am a little dissapointed with some of the responses
given my desire
| to fly. P.S, i'm not interested in sport flying.
| I am hoping that my condition will improve in the future -
I'm working
| on trying to reverse this condition. I hope not to have
it for life.
| Perhaps I will wait until I see an improvement in my
situation.
|
| Thanks Again
| Efis2
|

"EFIS2" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am a person with reactive hypoglycemia (gets weak/confused if does
not eat healthy snacks/meals regularly) - I'm sure there is not much
chance of being certified to get a PPL or go onto being an airline
pilot - I just thought I'd ask if anybody knows what the deal is, or
if anybody knows about this problem. I also have bad eye floaters,
I'm sure that would be a problem too. I'm not really optimistic given
that the condition often causes weakness and lack of awareness if I do
not keep my blood sugar up.


If you have never been turned down for a medical you could fly under light
sport aviation. Basically a 40's plane like a Cub (almost all without
electrical system) or one of the new ones for about $80K. The big issue for
light sport is a maximum gross weitht of 1320 pounds. With a couple of rare
exceptions, all aircraft in the US with an electrical system are over this
weight.

However, if you "zone out" due to the problem, I would not recommend it. A
friend of mine has the problem and she has passed out twice in my presence.
If she had been acting as a pilot, she would have certainly died.

Danny Deger