Military Discrimination

[TShelton]

I am 22 years old and currently attending the University of
Georgia.  My entire life I have wanted to serve in the
military and protect my country.  Unfortunately, I am an
insulin dependent diabetic.  I am in perfect health and
physically fit.  I have no complications after having this
disease for over 17 years.  No branch of the military will
allow me to enlist due to the fact that I am a diabetic.  
Considering I am perfectly able to do anything that the
military requires, I think this is extremely unfair and
unjust.  I certainly understand why they would not want a
diabetic to fill a combat position, but there are numerous
non-combat positions that a diabetic could fill.  I feel that
this is a very blatent example of discrimination.  I would
very much appreciate anyone who could give me some advice on
some options I might have to fight this.  I could certainly
use a helping hand in this situation.

[lindhout]

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 03/2005. In 04/2005 I was eligible to apply to the Canadian Forces.  Same story, told I can not because of my diabetes.  Told I am a risk of sudden incapacitation, and the risk of being without medicine is too great. Well my insulin if refrigerated well keep for over two years. Why can I not just bring a steady supply? No answer... Well you can’t take medicine if your in a bio suit.. umm pump?  There is pumps out now that well continuously monitor blood glucose. Sudden incapacitation gone.
I have worked service rigs for 2 years, anybody who has knows what I’m talking about when I say harder work then you will ever see on any combat arms, by a lot. The shortest shift I ever worked was 12 hours, I was on average gone 18 hours a day for my job. With one break to eat, if there was time. I worked in temperatures from -40, to +45.  I remember one time we worked till 3 am, turned around to start our next shift at 5am. Throughout this career not once did I have an incident, not once did I slow the job because I had to take care of my diabetes,  and my sugars were never out of control.  
The problem is there is too many diabetics in the world who will get in a car accident, “it wasn’t my fault my blood sugar was _______”, get in trouble with police? “It wasn’t my fault my blood sugars were ______”. Do you have a disability you can get an extra grant if you do, “Diabetes”... Every time one of these people use diabetes a crutch, its another nail in the coffin for diabetics who want to join the forces. Diabetics should be given the opportunity to prove themselves, I don’t care how strict you make the standards, how hard it will be. Throughout basic one incident and your out. Who cares, at least then we could try and if you don’t make it well at least you can go home knowing you were given the chance. I for one know my diabetes will not hold me back, I will never stop trying and I WILL make it one day mark my words.
If you don’t think you can do it with diabetes, then don’t. But how dare you tell somebody else they can’t. Every case of diabetes is different, and with 1 in 3 people

[SocialistC]

It has nothing to do with a diabetics ability to serve... Its about Money! You are a liability from day 1.  I no longer would serve in any capacity for this country. This military/government is not about serving and protecting but taking and profiting... Look at treatment of injured vets.  These oil inspired mis-adventures worldwide... With advances in medicine there is virtually nothing that would preclude a diabetic from serving properly... However giving childhood obesity rates the military will have no choice at some point.. BTW I can't understand why police, fire, border patrol and even DOT(CDL LISC.) would determine insulin dependent diabetics can't perform as expected.  Again I would suspect insurance companies as culprits... Also just wait for REAL war requiring draft...the military will be taking anybody at that time

[yardy151]

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetis in October 2002,  At that time I had 13 years in the miIitary. To make a long story short, I went through a medical board and was found fit for duty  Since then I got promoted twice,  I was given the opportunity to be medically retired but I am glad I did not take it.  Now I have over 20 years of service.  My plan is to continue to serve as long as I can still do the job.  However there are some frustration involve because there is alot of push back from medical regarding deployment.  It is very difficult to get promoted if you are non deployable.

[Ex_DiabeticNavyGirl]

I am a type 1 diabetic, who had had the disease for 8 years prior to joining the Navy Reserves in 1997.  The day I was to take my physical, I made certain I ate early, drove to Bethesda Medical for my screening--checked my BG before I went it--it was a perfect 90 and that was it.  I had passed that ASVAB test with a perfect score---every branch of the military was calling my house and I didn’t know what was going on.  My recruiter told me about my test score, but was thrilled I chose the Navy.  I chose the Navy because they didn’t make me go to boot camp.  Yes, you are reading this correctly--it was optional.  I told them, I had a busy civilian life and could not commit to being away from home.  I would commit to one weekend per month, but nothing more.  The Navy said okay.  I signed an 8-year contract, fully knowing that I had a trump card to get out and I knew how to use it.
In summary, I don’t want you to put your life in any danger, but at 28 years of age, I was not going to allow anyone to tell me what I could and could not do.  I wanted to join the military and I did; and I did it under my own terms!  The weekends were easier to handle than 24/7, but it's a way to serve, if that's what you really want.  I shopped at the commissary/PX, qualified for my VA loan, which I will be using next month and enjoyed what I did.  Now I'm wearing a pump and unless I tell you I'm a diabetic, you don’t know.  There are plenty of clothing items you can wear that make a pump disappear!

[pingu_mad]

i am a british sniper for obv reasons i am not telling you my name but the army dose not know i am diabetic, insulin (injection) dependent i had a freind check for me and perscribe the medication and no one finds out my section knows but will not take it further becouse they owe me favers that it how i did it thourght it might help.

[dead_metal]

The Only reason that the military wouldn't want a diabetic around is because of this. The military job your in, desk job or not; gets attacked/invaded. your blood pumps, your adrenaline rushes, and now your BG is dropping. your unit needs your help or they might die and now your just another soldier needing rescue and you aren't even wounded. You simply become another asset. its not discriminatory. its them not wanting to take the chance that when the diabetic is really needed that his BG is so off target that he cant do his job. I myself am a diabetic. diagnosed at 11 years old. Now I'm 19 and wishing that i could be on the frontlines of the marines with my 2 best friends. our lifelong dream. Every time i think of how i cant be in the military i just think of what would happen if i was in a combat situation and because of me, my entire squad along with my 2 best friends died. i would never be able to let it down. even after death. I still wish i could be up there following my dream, but not as a risk to my team.