Did you know that certain health conditions can disqualify you from joining the U.S. military, including type 1 diabetes? Individuals are often deemed ineligible for military service if they currently have or have a history of a disqualifying condition.

Although having type 1 diabetes disqualifies you from joining the U.S. Armed Forces, in some cases, people who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while serving in the military may be able to reenlist and be deployed into combat or to foreign bases.

If you’re living with type 1 diabetes and are interested in serving in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marines, here is some information that can help you better understand the U.S. military’s position on type 1 diabetes.

Why Type 1 Diabetes Is Disqualifying for the Military

In general, people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus do not qualify for military service. Unresolved prediabetes can also disqualify someone from joining the military. However, some people with type 2 diabetes may qualify for a waiver, allowing them to enlist if the condition is controlled through diet and exercise without medication. In contrast, people with type 1 diabetes require lifelong insulin therapy, making waivers for enlistment uncommon.

People with type 1 diabetes have been considered unsuitable for the military because of the physical requirements of American military service, along with the ongoing requirements of diabetes treatment. Military service can be unpredictable, and many diseases, including type 1 diabetes, may interfere with an individual’s ability to keep up with their duties and responsibilities. This scenario could be especially problematic in dangerous or critical situations while on active duty in the military.

Although rare, waivers for type 1 diabetes do exist, but the process and qualifications for obtaining one are not clearly defined, according to the American Diabetes Association. If you have type 1 diabetes and are interested in military service, it’s advisable to speak with a recruiter for more information on medical fitness requirements.

What if You’re Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes While in the Military?

Although type 1 diabetes is often thought of as a disease that develops in childhood, a significant number of cases develop in adulthood, which may happen while people are serving in the military. In some incidences, the military will allow someone with type 1 diabetes to reenlist if their condition meets certain requirements.

Rules may vary, depending on the military branch. Some of the key factors, among others, that may determine whether you’ll be retained for active service include:

• Whether your hemoglobin A1c (a test that corresponds to blood glucose levels) can be maintained at 7 percent or less
• If you have severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or a high risk of hypoglycemia
• Whether you’ve experienced serious comorbidities or complications (related health conditions), such as cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease
• If deployment requires going to a location where diabetes care and monitoring are difficult

If you’re diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while serving in the military and want to keep your position, along with meeting other fitness standards, your case will need to be reviewed by a medical evaluation board (MEB). An MEB reviews service members diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on a case-by-case basis. If an MEB determines that a service member is qualified for military deployment after a type 1 diabetes diagnosis, it will issue a waiver that overrides the standard disqualification for type 1 diabetes.

People who reenlist after a type 1 diabetes diagnosis will not be deployed into geographic areas where insulin cannot be properly stored or where appropriate medical care can’t be accessed.

You May Qualify for a Civilian Position in the Department of Defense With Type 1 Diabetes

Efforts have been made to legally protect people in the United States with diabetes and other conditions considered disabilities from employment discrimination through the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This includes participating in programs funded by the federal government. Although this law prohibits employers from excluding people with diabetes from jobs based on their condition, the military is exempt from following this ruling.

However, civilian positions in the Department of Defense (DOD) are covered by this federal law, and people with type 1 diabetes can’t be disqualified from a civilian job based on a diabetes diagnosis.

Civilian jobs in the DOD or programs funded by the DOD include a range of fields in countries around the world that support military operations, including positions in engineering, education, intelligence, health and medicine, legal support, finance, foreign affairs, science, cybersecurity, arts, and many more. In fact, the DOD employs almost 1 million people working in 650 different areas of work in 94 countries. You may find a fulfilling career outside of active duty if you’re interested in supporting military service.

Are Rules About Type 1 Diabetes in the Military Likely To Change?

Research has shown that newer technologies have contributed to a better understanding of how soldiers with well-managed type 1 diabetes can participate in active military duty and deployment. These developments include:

• Insulin pumps with continuous glucose monitoring
• Better education on type 1 diabetes
• Appropriate military training for people with type 1 diabetes

It’s impossible to know how or if the rules on type 1 diabetes will change. As of now, studies on people with type 1 diabetes who have served in the military are limited.

One study from the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare indicated that telemedicine can be an effective option for managing type 1 diabetes and lowering blood sugar levels and A1c levels in people serving in the military. With telemedicine, you can consult with a health care provider by phone or online. For people with type 1 diabetes who are deployed in areas where medical care may be limited, telemedicine may offer an effective alternative.

In recent years, the Pentagon has also recognized that advances in medical technology and health care have changed how people with various medical conditions may be able to perform in military service. In 2023, the Pentagon reviewed 38 medical conditions to update their standards on which health conditions should be disqualifying. The process of reviewing disqualifying conditions such as type 1 diabetes is likely to continue as the military works to meet recruitment goals and better understand new standards for managing chronic diseases.

Find Your Team

On myT1Dteam, the social network for people with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones, more than 3,400 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with type 1 diabetes.

Have you been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while serving in the military? Do you have a civilian job at the Department of Defense? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.