Hypoglycemia in airline pilots
Harper, C.R.; Kidera, G.J.
Aerospace Medicine 44(7): 769-771
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-9402 PMID: 4715092 Document Number: 61214
During 3 years 175 pilots were given glucose tolerance tests. In 44 blood glucose response was characterised by initial hyperglycaemia, mean 176 mg/100 ml, between 30 and 60 min after glucose by mouth and a rebound hypoglycaemia after 2 to 3 h, mean 54 mg/100 ml. Interviews and questionnaires showed that 65% of pilots experienced symptoms of hypoglycaemia by the end of the second year. Symptoms included drowsiness, poor thinking, irritability, tremor, "faintness" and digestive tract symptoms. In 12 pilots with hypoglycaemia as so defined fructose tolerance tests by mouth showed that fructose caused no initial hyperglycaemia or secondary hypoglycaemia. Pilots were advised to avoid refined carbohydrate and to limit total carbohydrate in the diet to 25% or less, to eat meals every 4 h while on flight duty, to have available protein snacks such as cheese or nuts between meals or in unusual duty periods and to replace coffee or soft drinks by milk, unsweetened juice or fruit.