What Researchers Did
Researchers developed and tested a real-time continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track blood glucose levels in two experienced diabetic divers during a one-week diving cruise.
What They Found
Both divers experienced a gradual decrease in blood glucose during dives. Hyperbaric chamber tests showed that 2 of 26 mean relative difference (MRD) values (7.7%) slightly exceeded the ISO-15197 allowed difference of 5%. Despite this, the data suggested that diving did not pose significant risks of hypoglycemia for the studied subjects.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with well-controlled diabetes who wish to scuba dive, real-time continuous glucose monitoring could offer an important safety tool. This technology could help prevent hypoglycemia during dives by providing immediate blood glucose information and trends.
Canadian Relevance
This pilot study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is the very small sample size, involving only two subjects.