Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Med. question.

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Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/27/2009


Question
Can you have type 1 diabetes in any military branch?

-thank you for your time!

Answer
Sarah,
No,

As I'm sure you're aware, Type 1 Diabetes is lethal unless treated with exogenous insulin.  Although there are several experimental methods, injection is the traditional and still most common method for administering insulin.

The military can assign you to some strange locations, and the insulin you need may not be available at that location.  Personally, I've spent many months at the North Pole and also in deepest, darkest Africa, where there was no civilization, let alone medicine.

So until some new cure comes along, you're out of luck.  Sorry.
Thanks for wanting to serve your country in uniform.
Colonel H

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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MARK A. HOWELL

Expertise

All military questions, any Service. 30 years experience & two Ph.D.'s. 4 times Base Commander. Worked with Army, Navy, USMC, USCG and several foreign military units. Veteran of Kosovo, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and 10 civil wars in Africa.

Experience

Air Force Colonel with 30 years experience. Air Force Base Commander 4 times. Highly decorated.

Organizations
Org of Am Historians, Wild West History Assoc., Disabled American Veterans - Life Member, Am Motorcyclist Assoc. - Life Member, North Am Hunt Club - Life Member, NWTF - Life Member

Publications
Numerous book reviews published in the Journal of American History. Two books submitted for publication.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in military history, Columbus University (Summa Cum Laude) Ph.D. in history, Northfield University, London, England (Summa Cum Laude) Master of Arts degree in history, Marshall University, WV Bachelors degree, double-major in history and mathematics, Salem College, WV Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

Awards and Honors
Legion of Merit Defense MSM MSM x 5 Joint Commendation Mdl AF Commendation Medal Army Commendation Mdl Joint Achievement Mdl AF Achievement Medal Outstanding Volunteer Mdl

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