Insulin-Treated Diabetes

The FAA has established a policy that permits the special issuance medical certification of insulin-treated applicants for third-class medical certification. Consideration will be given only to those individuals who have been clinically stable on their current treatment regimen for a period of 6 months or more. Consideration is not being given for first- or second-class certification.

Individuals certificated under this policy will be required to provide substantial documentation regarding their history of treatment, accidents related to their disease, and current medical status. If certificated, they will be required to adhere to stringent monitoring requirements and are prohibited from operating aircraft outside the United States. The following is a summary of the evaluation protocol and an outline of the conditions that the FAA will apply:

Initial Certification

The applicant must have had no recurrent (two or more) episodes of hypoglycemia in the past 5 years and none in the preceding 1 year resulting in loss of consciousness, seizure, impaired cognitive function or requiring intervention by another party, or occurring without warning (hypoglycemia unawareness).

The applicant will be required to provide copies of all medical records as well as accident and incident records pertinent to their history of diabetes.

A report of a complete medical examination preferably by a physician who specializes in the treatment of diabetes will be required. The report must include, as a minimum: