Diving with Diabetes - A Review of Recommendations

Abstract

Recreational diving is becoming an increasingly popular physical activity around the world. The vast majority of people who practice scuba diving are amateurs, often being treated for a number of chronic diseases and having cardiovascular burdens. Due to the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the world population and the potential for dangerous complications during diving, there is a need for unified recommendations for safe diving with this condition. Current guidelines from international diving associations are not entirely consistent. This review presents the positions of international diving associations concerning the requirements for diving with diabetes, the scope of diving and recommended management of life-threatening conditions during the dive.