- A UK-led study will monitor insulin-treated seafarers and fishers using continuous glucose monitoring devices.
- Researchers aim to recruit 50 participants within the first five months of the 12-month project.
- Results could influence a review of current medical standards restricting roles for seafarers with diabetes.
Physicians and scientists from the University of Surrey and the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust have partnered to lead a study on the management of diabetes in maritime professions. The 12-month research project will recruit seafarers and fishers with insulin-treated diabetes at the time of their medical certification. Participants will wear continuous glucose monitoring devices both at sea and on land. The research team plans to recruit 50 volunteers within the first four to five months.
Current Restrictions and Evolving Regulations
Seafarers and fishers with insulin-treated diabetes are permitted to work at sea, though restrictions remain in place. They are barred from lone watchkeeping, lone-working, and working at heights, and their operational areas are limited to within 150–200 nautical miles of helicopter evacuation range. Historically, insulin-treated individuals were not allowed to work at sea at all, highlighting how regulations have gradually adapted.
Medical Advances and the Case for Change
According to Professor David Russell-Jones, Consultant at the Royal Surrey Foundation Trust and Professor of Diabetes & Endocrinology at the University of Surrey, diabetes care has advanced dramatically in the past 20 years. Patients can now manage their condition with relative ease, yet many remain excluded from safety-critical maritime roles due to outdated medical standards. The study aims to show how effectively diabetes can be managed at sea, providing evidence for potential regulatory changes.
Monitoring and Safety Concerns
The current guidelines emphasize preventing risks associated with cognitive impairment or incapacitation from unstable glucose levels—situations that ships are often ill-equipped to handle. By continuously monitoring seafarers’ glucose levels, the study will offer insight into how these levels fluctuate between life at sea and life ashore.
Funding and Support
The study is funded by a £40,000 grant from The Seafarers’ Charity and the Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is also backing the initiative. Tina Barnes, Impact Director of The Seafarers’ Charity, said the trial could prove that long-term conditions such as diabetes can be safely managed at sea. Dr. Sue Stannard, Chief Medical Adviser to the MCA, added that the findings will play an important role in reviewing statutory standards for seafarer medical fitness in the UK and internationally.
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Source: safety4sea
