How do I dare to dive with Addison’s disease?

Many years before I got my diagnosis, I got my Scuba Diving Certificate. No one can take that away from me while I have experience and know what it means.

Along with the diving, I got Addison’s disease. I didn’t dive for many years because I felt I had to understand how I function 100% considering I also have diabetes 1, Graves disease and asthma.
Each person is different, but I am an expert in my own diagnoses. I know exactly how it works and that makes me feel safe. Of course, extreme planning is required with blood sugar, insulin in the body, cortisone amount, symptoms, etc., etc.

Safety is absolutely the most important thing and you must not risk anything because it can go really bad in the deep. Is there a plan B? My wife was on the shore with Solu-Cortef, candy, insulin etc if something went wrong.

I prepared a day before by making sure my blood sugar was good. I got up three hours before the first dive to get the right amount of carbohydrates and the right amount of insulin and control a good blood sugar. Just before the first dive, it was perfect for everyday life, but because I wanted to replenish my body with a reserve, I took a fruit and some sweets, nothing was allowed to happen!!

Dive one took 45 minutes at a depth of around five meters. It was shallow but I enjoy the diving regardless and therefore I am extremely calm and safe in the environment. For me, there is no stress in this, but I still took a little extra cortisone before because the equipment was heavy, it was 34 Celcius in the air and I was going to dive.

After the dive I checked the blood sugar and it was a little high but perfect for diving and not to risk low blood sugar. I still took some candy to save myself in case the energy ran out during the second dive. Every second during the dive I felt symptoms from one of the diagnoses but it felt safe and good. If I had felt something, I would have stopped immediately and gone to the surface.

I don’t know if you can take a diving certificate with Addison today, but regardless, you have to know your limitations and body 100%. I myself have experimented and learned after many years and miles of hard road cycling, running and travelling.

As I said, no one is the same and you can’t say that someone can or can’t. Only you know!

/Martin