<p>This isn’t one of those “I failed my freshman year” threads. I’m a rising junior @ a Top 10 school with a 3.96 GPA and amazing activities + research. I took the MCAT on July 18th (all my full-lengths had been 35+, so I’m hoping for the best) and seemed to be on-track for the medical school application process.</p>
<p>…but the day after the MCAT, I was @ an eye appointment, and my vision in both eyes improved from -6 to -2/-3. My eye doctor suggested I get a diabetes test since a rapid change in vision is a symptom of the disease. Today, I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type I. I’m still in total shock.</p>
<p>Is being a doctor completely out of the question with diabetes? I can’t even imagine how much of a struggle it’s going to be given the doctor’s rough-and-tough lifestyle. Planned meals, injections, constantly measuring my glucose levels…</p>
<p>Any input would be appreciated. I didn’t know where else to post.</p>
<p>I think you can. My dad has diabetes and I am at risk but its never been that much of a problem for either one of us. Of course my dad watches his blood sugar levels and takes like twenty different kinds of meds a day (but he has other diseases too) but it has never affected his career. BTW, my dad does a high stress career too. He pretty much works all day and night but he loves it and he’s good at it. So don’t worry about it. Your diabetes probably sounds way scarier to you now but for someone who’s lived with it all her life its not that big of a deal after you get used to it. Mostly you’ll just get used to a diabetes centered schedule.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, hope it made sense.</p>
<p>An old BF of mine had DM1 and is currently a very successful surgeon. This was in the pre-pump and pre-glucometer days and he managed very well. Just understand your disease and take of yourself.</p>
<p>diabetes is a very manageable condition…i don’t want to minimize the struggle you will have to go through at first but eventually you will get used to the routine. Also with modern devices you don’t have to be concerned about your diabetes all the time. </p>
<p>and… look on the bright side…you get to skip the line at amusement parks! </p>
<p>you should watch the scrubs episode entitled “My Cake” :)</p>
<p>If you have type II associated with the metabolic syndrome, then your doc may not want you do do a high stress job with long hours and no sleep.</p>
<p>We have a person in my class who’s Type 1. I’ve noticed him testing his blood sugar and injecting himself with insulin at class events and such. He’s doing just fine, so I can’t see any reason why your diabetes would hold you back.</p>
<p>One of my profs was diagnosed with Mature Onset Diabetes of the Young. It happened well after he was established in the field, but he’s still very busy and with all the stress of any other doc his age.</p>
<p>Like every other diabetic, you need to take the time to care of yourself, but there shouldn’t be any reason why you’d be limited. The only thing I can think of where it’d be an issue is long surgeries where you’d have to break scrub to get something to raise your sugars, but you’re going to be dealing with other health professionals…they’ll understand.</p>
<p>yes, a group of my friends went to an amusement park and one of them has type 1 diabetes and they got to skip all the lines for the rides. don’t know how you go about doing this though but i’m sure u’d have to prove you have it to the park and they give you a special bracelet or something. people with physical disabilities also get to skip the line. i guess this is YMMV though…not sure if all parks have a similar policy.</p>