Been following this post for a long time.
I was an infantry member with Type 1 diabetes. I was a late onset type 1. Joint the CF at 16 I wasn’t showing serious signs yet, but I did have many on my recruit course. I would get severe cramps in my legs, lost a truck load of weight (not just from the PT but I went from 175 to 150 in 2 weeks). Figured the legs were electrolytes so I’d drink juice or eat a banana at lunch. Made it worse. Cardio was junk, not because I didn’t try, I’d do PT in the evenings too but hard to have good cardio when your heart is pumping syrup. Didn’t figure it out until years later.
I spent 8 years in. Some of the best years of my life. But I was never 100% (knowing now). There was always something. Over the years as I hit my early 20s it got worse until I was on Mod 6 for my leaf. Was in wicked shape, had taught on several courses in between. Doing great. But I was living with my canteen in one hand and at the urinal. In one end and out the other. Would puke after light PT (my sugars were getting way worse but I didn’t know). Had applied for the Mounties and they called on course, said I failed my medical and to go to the base hospital. That was it. RTU’d and the process was started.
To this day I wish I could have stayed in and taught or switched to a different trade. But, I understood. I didn’t want to be responsible for my fire team partner not going home because I went down. Not personal. I know there has been some newer cases where people have argued ‘hormone therapy that is essential to life’ is okay and it’s been allowed. So I could make a case... but after the years in, I understand. Without a guaranteed way to ensure that I was stable... not a chance. Not because I can’t, I did. Got the t-shirt. But I understand the importance and the consequences. I always felt bad I didn’t get to deploy (I wanted to...it was RCMP that talked me out of it. Wanted to deploy me after depot) but I’m glad now that I didn’t get through, deploy and got someone killed due to a medical condition I didn’t know I had.
My 2c. I have always been bitter about it. I’ve been bitter for 10 years because of it. But I’ve carved a life of emergency response, hazmat, worked at a fire department, search and rescue and now remote emergency response in the northern wilderness. I get to work with The Rangers and SAR techs all the time. Even got to deploy in the back of a Herc to a are mote community evacuation last year. My own private ride. I’ve used what I learned to do what I can to help people. But I know that unless they cured me, I could never go back. I couldn’t risk a brother or sister not coming home because of me. I wouldn’t be able to look their family or by team members in the eye ever again. So I do what I can and use what I learned.
There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss my Unit mates. But I have learned that there are other ways to help people.
Hope that helps my fellow diabetics put things into perspective.
TR