FAA Proposes Changes to Medical Standards for Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Cases

The FAA is proposing to allow medical certificates to be issued to applicants with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by an aviation medical examiner (AME) at the time of their exam instead of requiring Special Issuance review. In a recently released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled Modernizing Medical Standards for Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Cases, the FAA is asking for comment on the proposal that reduces the burdens on both the applicant and the FAA during the Special Review process, “while recognizing that modern medical advancements have significantly improved the manageability of certain forms of diabetes.” Comments must be submitted by October 5, 2026.

The NRPM proposes allowing applicants for first-, second-, or third-class medicals who control their diabetes mellitus with non-insulin medications and meet all other applicable medical qualifications to be issued a medical certificate at the time of their medical application and exam. In doing so, the airman’s medical application would no longer be deferred by the AME at the time of their medical, thus saving considerable time and expense for the applicant and the FAA. By eliminating these deferrals, the FAA notes that it will reduce the “time, steps, and number of people required to issue medical certificates in new or recertification cases would provide relief to airmen,” and “applicant wait times and FAA backlogs would lessen assuming current resources remain available.”

The FAA estimates in the NPRM that this proposal could save industry between $39.70 million and $80.19 million dollars over five years.

EAA has long supported and championed common sense reforms to the FAA medical processes and sees this as an important example of the Agency's continued modernization of its medical standards.