Mayo Clinic Clear Approach FAA Certification for the "Baby Brother of Diabetes" -- Pre-Diabetes
Apr 25, 2025
Explore the complexities of pre-diabetes in aviation! Learn how mild blood sugar elevations can still allow for medical certification. Discover which oral diabetes medications are permissible for pilots and the specific criteria for qualification. Find out what factors can disqualify pilots and what new medications are now recognized by the FAA. Understand the necessary observation periods after starting medication and how documentation for certification works. It's a detailed look into how pre-diabetes impacts flying safely.
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Civil Air Patrol Briefing Experience
- Clay Cole describes briefing dozens of Civil Air Patrol designated pilot examiners at Hutchinson Airfield about FAA aeromedical issues.
- He highlights their role in search and rescue, disaster relief, and promoting future pilots through cadet programs.
Pre-Diabetes Often Certifiable By AMEs
- Pre-diabetes can often be handled by AMEs under CACI guidelines without FAA Special Issuance if controlled and asymptomatic.
- Metformin and lifestyle management may allow immediate issuance without forwarding lab results to the FAA.
Stand Down And Watch For Complications
- Do not issue the khaki pre-diabetes qualification if the pilot has diabetic complications, medication side effects, or hypoglycemic events in the past 12 months.
- Make the pilot stand down two weeks after starting a medication and observe 72 hours after each dosage change.