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Diabetes and the Armed Forces

SootieSteve

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi, just been diagnosed Type 1. I've been in the Armed Forces (Royal Marines) for the last 25 years.

Are there any other servicemen/women out there that have been diagnosed whilst serving?? If so, were you medically discharged or allowed to continue to serve??

I look forward to hearing from you
 
Hi Sooty,
I know an ex-Royal who got type one about 10 years ago. Wanted to stay in, but ended up with a medical discharge after all the medical/ employability boards. The pusser will generally discharge type 1s from what I've read; certainly you couldn't join up with it. I hope I'm wrong and you get to stay in the corps.
 

Cheers @Kenners.

That's the general perception I'm getting. The MO phoned me whilst still on a drip in hospital to tell me the same, but I hope in this day and age there is scope to retain me.

Thanks for your advice mate
 
I recall another member who was diagnosed whilst in the army. The feedback he was given was that if they could find him a role that wasn't front line/deployed (essentially a desk job) they may be able to retain him, but as you can understand, it's too much of a risk to have a T1 on the front line with potential limited access to supplies and the risk of hypo being a liability to the team with which they are operating when in hostile conditions. Good luck!
 
When I did my carb counting course, there was a T1 there who'd been in the air force, but was medically discharged upon diagnosis.

Best of luck!
 
Do you like training people, if so, the TA etc may have a job you can do? Likewise any UK based training post for the Marines or army. The RAF also have people who guard UK airfields and never get deployed.

The concept of you having to choose between getting a hypo or taking a break to eat while under fire is just unthinkable...... (hence the forces rules)
 
One of the main concerns, in addition to risk of hypos, is the supply line for essential medication ie insulin. Obviously, food, ammunition etc are also essential for armed forces, but an exact bullet or item of food doesn't need to be sent to every individual serviceperson. I had resigned from a TA medical unit in order to travel, then was diagnosed when working overseas, so became not able to continue with my job, so with no work permit, I couldn't stay in New Zealand, had to return to UK, find new career etc. Rejoining TA was not open to me in 1996.
I hope things might have improved by now.
 
I very briefly looked at joining the RAF reserves, simply to get some other form of training (and potentially a different career) during my time off from my actual job.

After looking online at their medical criteria, I soon found out that it wasn't an option as a T1.

Good luck and I hope you find the answer you seek. Failing that, I hope you find alternative employment
 
Hi Steve,

I was in the Welsh guards for 5 years. I found out I was diabetic 2 years after finishing training. Unfortunately I was told I was to be medical discharged but this took a further 3 years to happen. This was mainly due to them trying to find suitable roles to put me into, but was also at the time of many redundancies across the board.

I'm unsure if the marines(or any of the forces) are trying to retain soldiers these days but there is a possibility they will offer you a recruiting role to keep you in a bit longer.

If things do go down the medical discharge route, find out what your entitled to and ask as many questions as you possibly can. 25 years in the forces is hard by any means but coming out will seem hard, do your research on what you want to do and don't let people worry you into thinking there is no jobs out there. Employers love ex service personnel because they know how regimented they are and well disciplined.

If you need any more information then get in touch

Thanks,
Tom
 
Hi im in the army and have also been diagnosed with T1 only last month, it would be good to hear what they have said to you and what information you have been given
 

Were you given any sort of compensation or medical pension of any sort?
 
davidM1996 said:
Were you given any sort of compensation or medical pension of any sort?
Click to expand...
Yes I was given compensation and a pension because of my time served.

I'm not sure how they work it all out but I was told when asked 'how long was I expecting to stay in the army for' to say as long as possible to show that you wasn't intending to leave anywhere otherwise they will just offer you redundancy.
 

I’ve been in the army 6 years now do u mind me asking how much you were given?
 

And was it the army itself that paid your or an external company like AFCS
 
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