What does it take to safely manage type 1 diabetes while flying a commercial jet?

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pettus and Dr. Steve Edelman talk with Quinton Weiskittel, a commercial pilot living with type 1 diabetes. Quinton shares what it was like to be diagnosed mid-career, how FAA rules have changed, and the real-world routines he uses to stay steady through long flights, time zones, busy airports, and long stretches of sitting.

They also cover what the FAA requires for certification, how Quinton uses CGM data and smart “buffer” strategies to prevent lows, and why he’s chosen MDI over pump therapy while flying.

Key Topics

• Being diagnosed with diabetes mid-career: the moment everything changed
• FAA rules on pilots with diabetes and the path back to the cockpit
• CGM targets, reporting requirements, and medical follow-ups as a pilot with diabetes
• Preventing lows during flights: alerts, trends, and planning ahead
• Food choices and low-carb strategies while flying a plane
• What coworkers need to know (CGM alarms, injections, and professionalism)
• Travel tips for diabetes: airports,travel lulls and wait time, and insulin logistics
• Pump therapy in the air: pressure concerns and practical tradeoffs
• Advocacy and finding the right endocrinology support
• Life perspective: staying grounded while chasing big goals

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