Is it possible for a diabetic?

Is it possible for a diabetic on a insulin pump to go into a health professions graduate program for example?
physical or occupational therapy? Some of the classes like gross anatomy, kinesiology (lateral and medial positions) and fieldwork (which requires a medical history) require some physical work. The labs in undergrad are diff than those in these programs, I think.


Should a person let the program director know and will they provide accomodations because of the pump and diabetes?

and could the program not take someone because they have chronic conditions


someone told me they do ultrasounds or learn about them and estims and TENS, do any of those have x-ray like functions?

the pump cannot be exposed to radiation or xrays and cannot be taken off for that

yes it is possible. There aren't much if any accomadations that need to be made or provided for a person with an insulin pump. If you feel that accomadations need to be made talk with the program director. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act it would be illegal for one to discriminate against you.

If you want to have a career in healthcare I'm sure that accomodations can be made. The program may find out because you have to pass a physical exam prior to beginning school. I have heard stories of people becoming doctors while on dialysis, with one arm, blind etc so I'm sure you will not have a problem achieving this goal. You can also educate those around you about diabetes and the pump so they understand any limitations or special considerations that you may need.
Go for it, and good luck!!

If you condition is relatively stable, I see no reason why this should affect your ability to become a physical therapist. However, you need to be able to meet the following physical requirements (which may vary from school to school).

1. Tolerate sitting in a classroom for up to 8 hours a days with occasional breaks during your education

2. Tolerate spending long periods of standing in gross human anatomy lab as well as in the job setting

3. Be able to lift up to 25# at least on occasion

I assume your greatest limitation would be prolonged standing which can be hard on your venous system. As someone with diabetes, you may wish to discuss with your nephrologist that you are considering a career that will require prolonged standing. Use of compression garments might help.

Regarding TENS units, they do not emit any ionizing radiation. It is strictly an electrical modality. Nearly all PT modalities are radiation free. The only thing I can think of that would expose you to any radiation would be use of a cold quartz lamp in wound care which is ultraviolet C radiation (much like tanning beds)...yet this is rarely used anymore and I think we only spent one day with it and I have never used it in the clinic. The only other time you would be exposed to radiation would be if you were working with a patient who was being treated with radioactive implants for cancer such as seed implant in prostate cancer. I doubt this would give you much exposure at all, but certainly these are some things to discuss with your nephrologist.

Good luck.

You can be anything you want to be.
My endo has type 1 diabetes since he was a teen.
He made it through medical school and all the requirements.
You can too.