Pre-diabetic Type 2

[Old fat guy]

Recently my A1C has gone from 3.X to 5.4 about 18 months ago, 5.6 about 6 months ago, and recently to 6. And this is while I have lost weight and reduced carbs!
PCP recommendation is for me hitting the lab every 6 months until we get it back down. So we started with Metformin 500mg, once a day, and I am still very slowly losing weight.
Currently I have been using basic med.

How does this affect Basic Med (I could not find anything on it); or going for a third class if I ever wanted too.

 

[Kenny Phillips]

Yeah, those drugs are OK by the FAA for "issue in office" (single medication). I don't want to take them, so I've completely eliminated the high glycemic index carbs. Beans, OK. Bread? Nope.

 

[Brad W]

I eliminated processed carbs out of my diet a few years ago now, after going down a rabbit hole of research.

Just something to consider.....

Through that journey, I've read scientific peer-reviewed studies and listened to lectures and interviews by Dr's and professors...on the topic of reversing/curing diabetes. Yes curing it...not just pre-diabetics but full-on diagnosed...the disease that 'they' say can't be cured.

It all started when I was reseaching GERD...which lead me to an elimination diet for 3 months that is carnivore (maybe it was a little shorter but I think 3 mos was the Dr's recommendation)
I was amazed. weight stated falling off faster and easier than ever...and I've tried all the traditional approaches several times so I have plenty of approaches to compare against, even pharmaceutical ones.

After a short time of transition I started feeling a lot better and a lot of little chronic complaints cleared. I turned what was set out to be a temporary elimination diet into a lifestyle and I've stuck with it.

Anyway there are tons of variations of the theme, but I do believe that there are exceptions, I suppose, but getting your total carb intake down low...as in something like 20 grams per day or less...is very doable and can be a game changer for most folks.

What little I know about metforman, I would work HARD to get off of that stuff asap. My soon to be 88 year old dad is type 2 diabetic, hasn't been the best at eating well all these years, and his mental condition has declined big time. I'm convinced that if he'd elinated carbs years ago...even the fruit that the American Diebetes Assoc. suggests.... that he'd be a lot better off. Every one of us is different, but most likely anyway.

 

[AvNavCom]

How does this affect Basic Med (I could not find anything on it); or going for a third class if I ever wanted too.

OP, to answer your question: in the absence of any associated symptoms which would affect your ability to safely and effectively pilot an aircraft, this doesn't affect flying on BasicMed. You can find the list of conditions here that require a one-time special issuance.

For Third Class, I'll defer to Dr. Chien's experience. The FAA guidance is that if you have (or the FAA thinks you reasonably could be) diagnosed with diabetes *and* you need non-insulin medication (like metformin) to keep it controlled, then you'll get deferred. If you are diagnosed with diabetes and it is controlled with diet alone, that can be issued for all classes as long as there is "no evidence of associated disqualifying cardiovascular, neurological, renal, or ophthalmological disease".

 

[bbchien]

Doesn't affect Basic, at all.
Third class: If you can show within 90 day prior to any application, both HbA1c 6.5 or less, FBG 125 or less, and your HbA1c has ever been over 6.5, AME issues you with a yawn.
If you don't meet the above, have the NIDDM worksheet in hand signed within the prior 90 days. At least this AME calls it in and issues you on a verbal.

B

 

[Old fat guy]

@bbchien and others. Thanks for the answers.
Only one lab reading at 6; and per the PPC I am doing the right steps that eventually I should be able to have it under control with just diet and exercise. Gonna be a long road to get there...