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Hi Dave, thought you might be interested in this....
Trailblazer in the Sky
His passion was flying airplanes. It still is.
Here is the remarkable story of Stephen Steele, a Canadian trailblazer who became the first Type I diabetic airline captain in the world.
He grew up knowing that the only thing he wanted to do was fly. At 16, he got his student pilot permit, and by 17 he had his private pilot's license. At 21, he got hired by Air Canada and thought he was living the dream…until one day, 8 years later, he was forced to surrender his pilot's license due to a diagnosis of Type I, insulin-dependent diabetes.
Guidelines for flying…
It took a couple of months to stabilize the diabetes, but meanwhile, Stephen had lost his job and was told he'd never fly again. Faced with this new reality and the need to find a new career, Stephen headed for law school and spent the next 5 years getting his law degree and opening his own law practice. During that time, however, he never lost his "spark" for flying and managed to stay on part-time with Air Canada as a simulator instructor, teaching pilots to fly the DC-9 aircraft.
Juggling both careers proved to be enormously time-consuming, however, so eventually he had to make a choice. Stephen knew that his heart was always in aviation, so he jumped at an opportunity to be a flight simulator instructor for Cathay-Pacific Airways and packed up his wife and two sons and moved to Hong Kong. The opportunities and experiences he and his family shared throughout their 8 years in Asia went beyond what they could have imagined, and little did they know how much the aviation field would change over the course of that time.
Stephen uses an insulin pump to control his blood sugars, and he tests his blood 14-15x daily when he is flying, and 6-7x when he isn't flying. He must stay on top of his health in order to live his dream and to ensure that all of his passengers remain safe in his care. Transport Canada makes sure of that, as the rules for pilots with Type I diabetes are very strict. Click on the second video on the right to hear Stephen speak about the kinds of guidelines and criteria that pilots with Type I diabetes must meet.

Some sage advice…
Stephen has been back flying with Air Canada since 2003, and is proud to have been part of such a ground-breaking move to allow people with Type I diabetes to fly. Australia and South Africa have agreed to follow Canada's protocols, and this opens up a whole new world of opportunity for people with diabetes around the world. With proper care and excellent control, there isn't anything a person with diabetes can't do, and Stephen Steele is a perfect example of that. It took him a long while to get his license back, but he says he wouldn't trade in all the experience he got as a result of being diagnosed with diabetes.
Stephen says that his diabetes hasn't been a burden for him, but rather an opportunity to expand his horizons and educate others through volunteering with the CDA, as well as educating his colleagues on the job. He speaks openly about his diabetes with his crew and flight staff - and while he used to get "surprised looks" in the early days, they all know him by now and know that he has his health well under control.
Stephen encourages newly diagnosed diabetics.....diabetes doesn't have to hold you back from doing anything you set your mind to for yourself in your life.
Thank you, Stephen, for your passion and commitment, and for paving the way for the next generation of Type I diabetics who wish to pursue a career in aviation. Your tenacity is a shining example of living an unstoppable life with diabetes!

Welcome home fly-dave.....
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Welcome to the family!! On this forum you will learn so much. Most of all you will learn that you are not alone. Everyone here is supportive and will provide answers to your questions. Search the site for answers. Read the discussions and blogs for information. There are videos to help you understand diabetes and its treatment. Most of all there is family to talk to and even to vent to, if needed. Welcome home.

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY MY FRIEND!!!!!!!!! Any questions? Just ask one of us or post it on our forum where you will get a diversty of answers.
Here's a link to help our new member's get to know us better: http://www.tudiabetes.org/notes

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