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Learning to drive with Type 1 diabetes

S

SamanthaJaye

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
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Hello,

I’m just wondering if anyone has an experience on learning how to drive with Type 1 Diabetes. I’ve gathered I’ll need to inform the DVLA but has anyone had any personal experiences they can share so I know step by step what to expect?

Thanks in advance
 
Leadinglights said:
This thread may help as @Elenka_HM had some refresher lessons.
forum.diabetes.org.uk

Search results for query: driving lessons

forum.diabetes.org.uk forum.diabetes.org.uk
Click to expand...

That’s a bit different as Elenka’s issue was having a foreign licence.

@SamanthaJaye So you don’t have a provisional licence? You’ve only had Type 1 a couple of years so I thought maybe you’d had lessons previously?

The first thing to do is to get your provisional licence. If you already have one which you got prior to diagnosis, you need to inform the DVLA that your medical circumstances have changed.

Here’s some basic information:

Diabetes and your driving licence

There are extra rules for people with diabetes who want to drive. This is to make sure it’s safe for you and others. This information is about what to tell your driving licensing authority when you have diabetes. Provisional licenses and booking your driving theory test What to expect at the...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

.
 
I had already passed my driving test when I was diagnosed so I haven't been through the "learning to drive" stage but I have had to "learn how to drive with Type 1 diabetes". The difference is small and mostly about learning good habits so it is great that you have a chance to learn both at the same time (although a pain we have the additional "Diabetes load" to deal with).
After informing the DVLA, the key thing for me is keeping track of BG.
- making sure I am not hypo and reduce the chance of this happening.
- checking BG before setting off and every 2 hours
- it is easy to check just before I head out of the door but I have had to train myself to check 30 minutes prior as this gives me time to respond if my BG is lower than 5 mmol/l or heading that way. My understanding is that we can drive with BG less than 5.0 but we should eat something (without insulin) to ensure BG does not go lower.

Although all the legal/DVLA stuff is about hypos and low BG, I am aware, I can feel sluggish if my BG is too high (for me, this is double figures), so I also need to think about a rising or high BG and respond accordingly.
 
I learned to drive with T1 about 4 months after I turned 17. I did a one week intensive course (having been diabetic for just under 10 years at that point.)

It was about 30 years ago though. I let my driving instructor know and obviously had a provisional licence and the DVLA knew I was T1 diabetic. I had plenty of fast acting carbs with me, and ate snacks (which was normal pre-MDI).

I don't really recall it being any different to a normal day in terms of what I ate. I used to habitually run low in those days when at school, though when back home on holiday (this was over the Winter term half-term) I would often run high(er), I imagine I must have made an effort to eat more for breakfast to bump myself up - though actually the stress would probably have done quite a lot of that for me too. I don't recall it being anything out of the ordinary and I can certainly remember doing the course.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine. I'd err on the side of running a bit higher (and not correcting) until you work out what effect lessons have on your BG (fwiw I now get a definite drop in BG while driving, probably because it's low stress and I need to concentrate)
 
Inka said:
That’s a bit different as Elenka’s issue was having a foreign licence.

@SamanthaJaye So you don’t have a provisional licence? You’ve only had Type 1 a couple of years so I thought maybe you’d had lessons previously?

The first thing to do is to get your provisional licence. If you already have one which you got prior to diagnosis, you need to inform the DVLA that your medical circumstances have changed.

Here’s some basic information:

Diabetes and your driving licence

There are extra rules for people with diabetes who want to drive. This is to make sure it’s safe for you and others. This information is about what to tell your driving licensing authority when you have diabetes. Provisional licenses and booking your driving theory test What to expect at the...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

.
Click to expand...
I have a
Inka said:
That’s a bit different as Elenka’s issue was having a foreign licence.

@SamanthaJaye So you don’t have a provisional licence? You’ve only had Type 1 a couple of years so I thought maybe you’d had lessons previously?

The first thing to do is to get your provisional licence. If you already have one which you got prior to diagnosis, you need to inform the DVLA that your medical circumstances have changed.

Here’s some basic information:

Diabetes and your driving licence

There are extra rules for people with diabetes who want to drive. This is to make sure it’s safe for you and others. This information is about what to tell your driving licensing authority when you have diabetes. Provisional licenses and booking your driving theory test What to expect at the...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

.
Click to expand...
i have a provisional licence I’ve just never taken any lessons, Thankyou for the link
 
helli said:
I had already passed my driving test when I was diagnosed so I haven't been through the "learning to drive" stage but I have had to "learn how to drive with Type 1 diabetes". The difference is small and mostly about learning good habits so it is great that you have a chance to learn both at the same time (although a pain we have the additional "Diabetes load" to deal with).
After informing the DVLA, the key thing for me is keeping track of BG.
- making sure I am not hypo and reduce the chance of this happening.
- checking BG before setting off and every 2 hours
- it is easy to check just before I head out of the door but I have had to train myself to check 30 minutes prior as this gives me time to respond if my BG is lower than 5 mmol/l or heading that way. My understanding is that we can drive with BG less than 5.0 but we should eat something (without insulin) to ensure BG does not go lower.

Although all the legal/DVLA stuff is about hypos and low BG, I am aware, I can feel sluggish if my BG is too high (for me, this is double figures), so I also need to think about a rising or high BG and respond accordingly.
Click to expand...
Thankyou!
 
SimonP said:
I learned to drive with T1 about 4 months after I turned 17. I did a one week intensive course (having been diabetic for just under 10 years at that point.)

It was about 30 years ago though. I let my driving instructor know and obviously had a provisional licence and the DVLA knew I was T1 diabetic. I had plenty of fast acting carbs with me, and ate snacks (which was normal pre-MDI).

I don't really recall it being any different to a normal day in terms of what I ate. I used to habitually run low in those days when at school, though when back home on holiday (this was over the Winter term half-term) I would often run high(er), I imagine I must have made an effort to eat more for breakfast to bump myself up - though actually the stress would probably have done quite a lot of that for me too. I don't recall it being anything out of the ordinary and I can certainly remember doing the course.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine. I'd err on the side of running a bit higher (and not correcting) until you work out what effect lessons have on your BG (fwiw I now get a definite drop in BG while driving, probably because it's low stress and I need to concentrate)
Click to expand...
Thankyou!
 
SamanthaJaye said:
I have a

i have a provisional licence I’ve just never taken any lessons, Thankyou for the link
Click to expand...

Did you get the provisional licence prior to your Type 1 diagnosis? If so, you’ll need to let the DVLA know.

Apart from informing the DVLA (and your insurance company once you’ve passed the test), the main/only differences are that we need to watch our blood glucose; maintain hypo awareness; and will be given a medically limited licence - ie it won’t last till you’re 70, it will need to be renewed every few years.
 
I passed my test about 18 months ago and was then diagnosed with cancer and had my pancreas removed. This meant I never got to do lots of driving and gain confidence. Once I was in a position to start motoring again I had refresher lessons. Main thing for me is keeping my phone nearby and setting the low alarm higher than usual so I have time to respond to a sudden drop. Being type 3c this can be quite drastic so I tend to avoid driving after insulin injections. Most T1s don't seem to be quite so volatile but your own experience should guide you. The car also has stashes of skittles and jelly babies everywhere. If you're in the instructor's care make sure you have plenty close to hand.

My instructor wasn't too concerned although I suspect that was lack of experience of T1 and T3c and I took him through the DVLA rules. Mainly though it was just explaining about the CGM and alarms and that there might be instances where I need to pull over and snack. In certain circumstances that might mean waiting 45 mins but as he was getting paid regardless...

We did discuss whether it made a difference to his insurance but the conclusion was it didn't as Instructors tend to have all encompassing cover.
 
Standup said:
The car also has stashes of skittles and jelly babies everywhere. If you're in the instructor's care make sure you have plenty close to hand.
Click to expand...
This is my car too - many mini bags of skittles in the cup holder (jelly babies are not recommended once the weather gets vaguely warm!), even more Skittles/some Nature Valley bars in the boot so that I can treat whatever needs to be treated.
 
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