16 Comments
In honor of Memorial Day, do you have any experience with T1D and the military?
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IV-F. Anyone remember draft card classifications? Funny thing, though, I did have the opportunity to work for the DOD in some quite dangerous situations — as a civilian. Go figure. っʔ•̖ᴥ•̗ʕ
Daughter of a career military officer, widow of a combat veteran. Have my own medical insurance so no experience how military handles Type 1 diabetes. As a military dependent care was not too good. Fortunate to be healthy.
Like Sarhan above, I grew up while my father served 28 years in the Air Force. I was diagnosed in 1976 while in college. In my senior year, I inquired about joining but was told that my T1D disqualified me.
I do have some experience, but it’s complicated, as they say. I was diagnosed with T1D just after I turned 40. At the time, I was active duty Navy and the captain of a ship out of Norfolk, Virginia. Once I was diagnosed, I was told I could no longer go to sea and had to relinquish command. Although I fought the decision all the way to the top of the Navy medical hierarchy, the final judgement was that it was just too risky to allow me to continue to serve on ship that did not have a doctor embarked. My ship had a very capable Navy corpsman, but that wasn’t enough. Turns out, the Navy made the right call, but that’s another story. Although my seagoing days were over, the Navy did let me continue to serve ashore until I decided it was time to resign my commission, and I really appreciated that.
My Uncle was a career Navy man, 1960’s and 1970’s, enlisted in late 1950’s. He wasn’t diagnosed until after he retired, thankfully.
I was diagnosed with T1D while in the USAF and was subsequently given a medical discharge.
T1D myself no military experience. Father WW11 Vet Demolitions. Wounded in 3 separate occasions. He lived 95 years.
I was close to being drafted and sent to Vietnam in 1969, but found out type1 and gratefully reclassified 4F (unfit)
I was an Army Wife while my husband served. But, today isn’t about all Veteran’s, only the ones who didn’t make it home.
Spouse of an army officer and the care was terrible as a dependent. Was on a pump before he started serving and couldn’t continue on it when he signed his commission. Had two pregnancies while in the army and they were at teaching hospitals and the care was extremely regimented. Once I missed an appt (they required every two weeks appts from beginning of pregnancy) because I couldn’t get our car with my Dh’s schedule and they called his commander. Didn’t appreciate being treated like a two yr old. Talked about an automatic csection from beginning of pregnancy. Despite the care I had a one vaginal delivery.
I was told (not by the military) that I would not be able to serve in the military. Other occupations such as bus driver, pilot, etc were also on the no go list when I was diagnosed in 1974.
I wasn’t allowed to at the time, however I wanted to become a military RN when I finished school.
I have a funny story. In 1975 my buddy was trying to get me to join the army as that would give him $20 more per month pay for getting a new recruit to join. I told him I could not, but then it was he would get $50 if he got me to visit the recruiter. So I agreed.
We visited for about an hour and I kept telling recruiter I was a T1. At the end he said listen: We take T1’s (he was full of shit) what we do is get them to go off insulin for 90 days, they complete basic and get ill then get a honorable discharge with lifetime benefits.
I said well , I appreciate the offer, but i do not think I can last 90 days. Even better he said. Think of the benefits your family would get. My family? Yes when you die.
LOL
I passed.
My only experience was as the child of a career military man. The care was terrible. It took 3 or 4 doctors to get me diagnosed and the doctor I had after that could not have cared less about me. No pediatric endo. 30 days in hospital.
But, they did give me insulin AND syringes! So, that was good!! ;p
My care as a 6-year old civilian wasn’t any different. The pediatrician didn’t have a clue. Started me on insulin and urine glucose testing, did a fasting BG once a year and that was it until age 13 when I went into DKA. No change in insulin from age 6 until DKA at age 13. I was blessed with a mother who fed me healthy, balanced meals and I have a hyperdrive metabolism that burns the calories, so I’m complication free after 54 years with T1D
I grew up as an army brat. I wasn’t diagnosed with T1D until 9yrs after my father retired.