lindhout said:
why exactly do you have this hate for diabetics? how quickly you judge all diabetics shows just how ignorant you are. If you have done any research you would know there is a few people in CF and US army with type 1 diabetes. In 1989 a type 1 diabetic was cleared for flight as a search and rescue pilot in CF. Yes he was already a member we diagnosed in 2007, but the fact he was allowed and no issues came forth shows again your ignorance. There is no reason type 1 diabetes should be a blanket ban, there is many diabetics who would have no problems at all performing their duties. Continous glucose monitoring eliminates risk of sudden incapacitation, and IF somebody is stuck without medication, the only risks are LONG TERM. Every case of diabetes is different and should be handled as such, people like you are pathetic
You do realize that you started your contribution to this forum by spouting off in response to an almost
four year old post, don't you? While that is not necessarily looked down upon here, the tone of your original post (in my view, at least) could be considered abusive or trolling; my suggestion is that you dial it back a notch.
While you may have personal experience with diabetes, it is patently obvious you have little to no knowledge of the CF or how its medical category system is applied to those with diabetes (or any disease). By ranting off in all directions, especially when insulting members who are knowledgeable (because it is part of their job) you will accomplish little on these means other than gain a less than admirable reputation. This forum, while not always the epitome of decorum, does place a greater emphasis on reasoned
debate argument than is often found elsewhere on the net. Perhaps someone should direct you to the "rainbow" post.
Your suggestion that, since a CF pilot was retained on flying status following diagnosis as a type 1 diabetic, applicants with diabetes can be enrolled with no problem demonstrates your lack of understanding of what military members do and how medical categories are applied. Contrary to your statement that there were no issues with this unusual retention of a diabetic pilot, there were several. Again, you take semi-knowledge of one fact and extrapolate it far beyond your arcs.
The pilot in question enrolled in the CF in 1982 and had no medical issues at that time. He completed flying training (rotary) in 1982. In April 1987 he presented with symptoms and was subsequently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He was initially treated with insulin and was entered in a diabetic study group at UWO. From the time that he presented with symptoms he was grounded. Two years after diagnosis (1989) he was returned to “restricted” flying status, “to fly with or as co-pilot”, and had specific geographic restrictions to fixed bases where physician services were available. He was to have specialist and aeromedical follow-up every 3 months. Following his return to flying he was assigned to a SAR squadron flying Labradors. In 1991, he was again grounded for 6 months but returned to flying duties (with the same restrictions as before) in 1992. His reported performance as a pilot was noted as “outstanding” and was awarded the Medal of Bravery in 1991 for a rescue mission in adverse conditions.
You can download the complete document from which I gathered this information as a PDF
here
While the details above were extracted from an article in a 1995 journal, the following excerpt from a 2008 article mentions a more current sitrep of the pilot in question. (I’ve redacted his name for this forum)
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2008/06/26/5807/flying-on-insulin/
The very first pilot in the world with type 1 to get his medical certification and, therefore, his pilot’s license reinstated was a Canadian military pilot, Capt. ***** *******. ***** was diagnosed with diabetes in 1987. After two years of monitoring and individual assessments of his ability to control his diabetes, a very forward thinking Dr. Gary Gray, with the help of *****’s endocrinologist, Dr. John Dupre, authorized ***** to return to flying duties. In August of 1989, ***** moved to Summerside PEI and returned to active flying status at 413 Sqn. ***** is presently working as a Major in Esquimalt, BC, where he is still licensed to fly. He will be retiring from the Canadian Forces in July of 2010.
And it has been far from a given that this pilot was able to continue his military career as is noted in this excerpt from a letter he sent to then Minister of Health Allan Rock is support of islet research.
http://islet.org/33.htm#GrenkowToRock
. . . And even a well controlled diabetic like myself finds the sword of Damocles hanging over one's head when employment issues like "Universality of Service" come into play. Even though I am cleared to fly as a Search and Rescue pilot in the CF actions are being taken through a Career Review Board to release me because I can not be supposedly deployed for more than 30 days. This is rated on the shelf life of opened unrefridgerated insulin.
Not knowing this officer personally I can only surmise (based on the effort and support that must have come from both his chain of command as well as aeromedical staff) that he is truly an outstanding individual, in terms of professional ability as well as personality. In most cases, plugs are not kept if they fall below minimum medical standard. In the words of a friend of mine who was in the career shop “if someone pi$$es me off, the only effect would be similar to pi$$ing into the wind – it’s their trouser legs that get wet”.
lindhout said:
I understand why the CF says what they do about diabetics, but I don't think they are right in their judgment. Keep a surplus of insulin (mine stores for 2 years), . . . . Sure they couldn't be ready to deploy in a matter of minutes... .
If you understand, then be prepared to offer a knowledgeable analysis of which occupations could accept enrollees with Type 1 diabetes.
Does your opened insulin store for two years with refrigeration? Who manufactures it?
More than once during my career I have been subject to movement on very, very short notice, in fact I once received my notice of a posting (Gagetown to Edmonton) and had to be on the road in three hours. (talk about clearing unit and base quickly - only thing I turned in was my weapon EIS)
lindhout said:
To me this is insulting and raises many discrimination concerns.
Again, your lack of knowledge is showing. Former members of the CF have already tried to claim that they were discriminated against due to them being released from the CF after being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. CHRTs have upheld the CF's position. You may want to review the following tribunal decisions. They may enlighten you as to the process that occurs before a serving member is released after failing to meet medical standards. I've included a passage from "Gaetz" that discusses the some numbers of members who have been released because of insulin dependant diabetes.
Gaetz v. Canadian Armed Forces (a 1988 decision)
http://chrt-tcdp.gc.ca/aspinc/search/vhtml-eng.asp?doid=105&lg=_e&isruling=0
“On the same page Captain Martin also indicated that the Career Medical Review Board had cases which came before it dealing with members suffering from diabetes and Captain Martin’s testimony was to the effect that there were 34 such cases since 1985, and he indicated that of those 35 cases, 14 persons were released and that these were insulin- dependent diabetics requiring daily injections. Five of the remaining persons were retained to compulsary retirement age, which was going to occur 18 to 24 months down the road and such persons were retained for annuity purposes. Another 4 were retained with restrictions and in those cases the medical prognosis was that if proper dieting took place and proper regimented exercise was accomplished, then good control could be maintained by oral medication. Captain Martin also stressed that he was not certain as to whether or not any of the persons retained were insulin- dependent diabetics in the sense that they required insulin injections. In cross- examination by Mr. Duval as to the type of career restrictions imposed upon the four Members who are retained by the Forces after having their medical catagory downgraded by the Career Medical Review Board, commencing at line 5 on page 230. Answer: "They would be career restrictions, which means that at whatever rank level they were at at that time is where they will stay. They will not progress beyond that rank level. For illustration, we use a corporal."
Brown v. Canadian Armed Forces (a 1995 decision)
http://www.chrt-tcdp.gc.ca/aspinc/search/vhtml-eng.asp?doid=222&lg=_e&isruling=0
At this point someone is probably thinking "sum up" - so . . .
You could continue ranting all you want that diabetics should be enrolled into the military (though preferably on another forum) but it would not change the reality that there are valid reasons for precluding individuals with that medical condition from joining. Yes, there have been those who have continued to serve after being diagnosed, but in reality not that many and only when an analysis of that individual’s medical condition ‘and’ his potential for providing further ‘above average’ service indicates it is to the CF’s benefit to retain him. It is also probable that retention and accomodation of such individuals has been less likely in the past few years for the simple reason that we’ve been at war and need those who can deploy to a combat area.
