Impact of a sports project centered on scuba diving for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: New guidelines for adolescent recreational diving, a modification of the French regulations.

Background: Recreational scuba diving has been authorized for type 1 diabetics over 18 years old - the age of majority in France - since 2004, but it remained forbidden for younger diabetics by the French underwater federation (FFESSM). Here, we present a study to evaluate: - the conditions under which diving could be authorized for 14- to 18 year olds with type 1 diabetes; - the value of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) while diving. A secondary objective was to monitor the impact of diving on the teenagers' quality of life.

Blood glucose changes and adjustments of diet and insulin doses in type 1 diabetic patients during scuba diving (for a change in French regulations).

Objective: In France, diabetic subjects were not allowed to dive. The principal risk is hypoglycemia during immersion. However scuba diving is allowed in many countries.

[Is scuba diving allowed in diabetic patients treated with insulin?].

Scuba diving is usually prohibited in diabetic patients at risk of hypoglycemic attacks (i.e. IDDM and NIDDM treated with sulfonylureas) due to the particular severity of these episodes in a hostile environment.