A Dream Deferred
I’m watching M*A*S*H right now. On this particular episode, a talented helicopter pilot is discovered to have diabetes. Being in the army, that means a medical discharge and losing the chance to break the record for most rescues (which he was only four away from). I started wondering if diabetes would still prevent someone from being a pilot.
In the army, the answer is a solid yes. You’re still given a medical discharge for being diabetic.
The FAA will kick you out, as well, it turns out. For any level certification (small planes up to jets), one will be immediately disqualified from earning a license if one has diabetes being treated with medicine.
I’m actually a little disappointed. I’ve never actually flown in a plane before, as a passenger, but I have a feeling I’ll love it. And I’ve wondered what it would be like to pilot a small plane. I’ll never know now.
That means I’ll have to stick with merely being a passenger, I suppose. So maybe it’s time to actually take my first flight soon? 
