Can you reenlist if you are found borderline diabetic?

SPC Philip Hoffman — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:48:22 -0500

I have tried to re-up and got denied cause I came up as borderline diabetic. Has anyone else had this issue or know how to get around it?

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Feb 23 at 2015 11:52 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:52:12 -0500

Type 1 or Type 2?

Type 2 can be best controlled (and even reversed in some cases) through proper diet and exercise. Sadly, with Type 1 you are screwed.

More details?

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Feb 23 at 2015 12:13 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 12:13:05 -0500

First, have you been MEB'd
I know a guy that was full insulin dependent and was returned to duty. Reenlisted, then years later became uncontrolled and was MEB'd again and med seperated.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 12:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 12:20:40 -0500

SPC Philip Hoffman: Years ago, my wife and I were at Womack. She's a Type 1 diabetic. She's had diabetes her whole life. (this isn't about her though - this is just anecdotal) We had gone to her endocrinologist, and while we were there, we met a Soldier, who also had Type 1 diabetes - not because he had it his whole life, but because he got shot and his pancreas was destroyed.

For those of you who don't know the difference between type 1 and 2:

Type 1 develops early on in life, before the age of 18, and it always results in complete and total failure of the pancreas to provide any insulin to your body (insulin is what allows your body to break down sugars and convert them into energy that your cells can use). The only way to treat this, is through shots of insulin - usually before a meal, or an insulin pump.

Type 2, develops later in life, at any point after 16 usually, and is the "partial" failure of your pancreas to provide enough insulin. The pancreas still produces, or can produce, insulin. Often, Type 2 diabetes can be usually be treated with diet, exercise, and medication, and only sometimes, requires supplemental insulin shots. There are rare cases of type 2 where the pancreas does not produce any insulin, but because the individual didn't develop the disease until later on, it is still considered type 2.

The Soldier above, technically was a "type 2" diabetic, but because his pancreas was destroyed, he was treated as a type 1. He was placed on an insulin pump, and given extensive medical training on how to manage his diabetes.

Now, this Soldier was a member of a specific Tier 1 unit. His time for re-enlistment came up. The unit allowed him to re-enlist, and he had to sign a waiver, basically stating that he understood, that if he had any sort of insulin reaction (a situation where basically you either don't eat enough - therefore getting too much insulin and not enough sugars), and he was on a mission, he understood his team had the option to leave him behind until the mission was complete - and even then, that they might not be able to come back for him.

I don't know if this helps - and I'm pretty sure it doesn't - but what the take away is, is that you need to engage with an endocrinologist, and get them involved. If your diabetes is well managed, you don't have any issues taking the meds, then there is really no reason you couldn't continue to serve - but you have a long, uphill fight on your hands... You're not in SOF, and you don't work for any Tier level units, which means you're dealing with the big green weenie of the Army, and you might not win on this...

In any case, good luck!

Response by SPC Philip Hoffman made Nov 10 at 2015 10:49 PM

SPC Philip Hoffman — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 22:49:47 -0500

I have an update from the army about going back in. They said that if it is diet and exercise controlled to keep it in normal ranges, it can be waivered. Will update as I find out more.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Nov 10 at 2015 10:56 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 22:56:19 -0500

I'm diabetic so I can't get back in.