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‘We need more information and support about driving rules when you have diabetes’

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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Hello everyone!

Do you know your rights when it comes to driving and diabetes? Why does it make a difference, what do you have to tell the DVLA about and when, what blood sugar level can you drive at, what happens if you drive for a living and can’t anymore, and who can help support you with more driving questions.


There have been lots of discussions in this board with lots of you asking and answering these very same questions. We know that there are many people out there who need this kind of support and information and we know some people prefer to hear advice and tips from people like them – would you be willing to help them by sharing what you know, potentially in a video so people can engage quickly and easily with the information? If so, we’d love to talk to you – reply to this post and I’ll be in touch.
 
I only know about rules for driving a car, nothing about HGVs etc.
I am happy for you to contact me.
 
Thank you @SB2015 you should be hearing from somebody shortly.

Does anybody else have any experiences or tips they'd be happy to share with us?
 
Hi Gwen, first as soon as you become type 1 you must inform DVLA and be prepared to surrender your license.
Always attend your diabetic surgeries and your doctors reviews as these are the people who the DVLA will be asking about your state of health.
Make sure you keep to the regime your healthcare professionals advise.
Get your eyes tested and wear your prescription when driving if advised to.
Stock your car with sugar snacks which can be easily reached.
Inform your motor insurance cover as soon as you are diagnosed.
Print your insurance document and keep in your car.
Join a motoring association.
Get free legal cover.
Cary a card stating you are a diabetic and what to do if you are found unconscious, give all your details and your doctors too.
Test your BS level before getting into your car and test every two hours. Do not drive in your BS is below 6mmos.
That’s about it just make sure you drive safely and don’t take any chances.
 
Austin Mini said:
Hi Gwen, first as soon as you become type 1 you must inform DVLA and be prepared to surrender your license.
Always attend your diabetic surgeries and your doctors reviews as these are the people who the DVLA will be asking about your state of health.
Make sure you keep to the regime your healthcare professionals advise.
Get your eyes tested and wear your prescription when driving if advised to.
Stock your car with sugar snacks which can be easily reached.
Inform your motor insurance cover as soon as you are diagnosed.
Print your insurance document and keep in your car.
Join a motoring association.
Get free legal cover.
Cary a card stating you are a diabetic and what to do if you are found unconscious, give all your details and your doctors too.
Test your BS level before getting into your car and test every two hours. Do not drive in your BS is below 6mmos.
That’s about it just make sure you drive safely and don’t take any chances.
Click to expand...

Thanks Austin Mini! I work in the website team at Diabetes UK. I thought I'd create a checklist of some sort about the key things to think about when driving - which is exactly what you've given me 🙂
 
Count me out - what's wrong with people these days, who apparently can't read or if they can, can't understand what they have read? If they can't read then they most certainly shouldn't be helped to get a licence.

If you want to simplify trying to get a C1 or above for people with diabetes, then I'm fine with anyone helping people do that.
 
I've read all the rules and they are quit simply horribly unclear
You definitely can't drive under 4.0mmol/L or within 45 minutes of being there.
Between 4 and 5 however they might suspect your license even though what they say is "advice" that you "eat a snack" if you are under 5 with no mention of retesting or the snack being intended to raise BG over 5 (kinda implied but very definitely not stated) nor that you should wait long enough for it to do so -oh and you have to sign a thing saying you will follow the "advice"

Given that the 'advice' booklet you are sent appears to be the whole of the actual regulation on the subject it's appallingly badly written. The actual legislation appears to leave it up to the Secretary of State and the DVLA.

My guess is that they would like to force us over 5 but have been advised that there could be a discrimination case if they did so given that non-diabetics should all have a 'fasting' level under 5.

So @trophywench if people can't understand what they have read it might be because what they read sucks
 
Well Timlagor - if you've just caused a major pile-up on a motorway or driven your car into a tree or ere driving erratically then I daresay you'd be more likely to have your licence suspended, otherwise you're unlikely to have attention drawn to you in the first place. If someone who knows about such things or should do, eg a policeman or a paramedic/ambulance staff, doesn't get involved then it isn't going to happen, is it?
 
1) That doesn't in any way answer anything I wrote

2) At my last routine Diabetes Specialist appointment I was told another doctor (also diabetes specialist) had their license suspended for driving with a BG of 4.3 after they were accosted by police *NEAR* a car accident (in which they were not involved). The doctor wasn't even breaking the guidelines and certainly wasn't driving dangerously. You're not safe from someone "getting involved" for reasons wholly beyond your control and if YOU don't "know about such things" (which the actual DVLA guidance completely fails to inform you of) then you can suffer serious consequences with no warning.
 
Timlagor said:
1) That doesn't in any way answer anything I wrote

2) At my last routine Diabetes Specialist appointment I was told another doctor (also diabetes specialist) had their license suspended for driving with a BG of 4.3 after they were accosted by police *NEAR* a car accident (in which they were not involved). The doctor wasn't even breaking the guidelines and certainly wasn't driving dangerously. You're not safe from someone "getting involved" for reasons wholly beyond your control and if YOU don't "know about such things" (which the actual DVLA guidance completely fails to inform you of) then you can suffer serious consequences with no warning.
Click to expand...

The question I have to ask is why was the Dr stopped in the first place and why was he asked to do a blood test? Also may I point out a copper has no right to ask you to test unless he is concerned about your wellbeing or other road users and it would be up to an ambulance crew to do the test if a licence is at stake.

So I suspect there's a lot more to what you are saying then meets the eye.


As far as I am aware if you are below 5 before a journey begins then you must have a snack. Quite sensible imho.
 
They stopped because there was a jam as a result of the accident

I assume the police read their number plate or something. I got this second hand so I can't give you all the details. There may be more to it but I have no reason to doubt the source.
Regardless of this case the guidance is a mess and it's wholly inappropriate to be dismissive of attempts on this forum to make a better guide.

If your BG is stable above 4 (no bolus 'on board' and no history of unexplained downward swings) there's no medical reason at all to have a "snack".
It has not been established that there is no harm (increased risk of complications) of a BG over 5 (listen carefully when your doctor tells you there's no clinical evidence of a BG over 5 being harmful -the two statements are not contradictory).

I'm absolutely fine with people taking snacks under 5 or even being advised to: having your license suspended for a BG under 5 when there's no reason to expect that to be a risk is highly objectionable.
Dismissing attempted to give people better advice when the DVLA guidance is so terrible I also object to.
 
Timlagor said:
Dismissing attempted to give people better advice when the DVLA guidance is so terrible I also object to.
Click to expand...
With respect it is only you who seems to have the problem.
Your best bet is to email the DVLA and ask them to clarify what they mean as you don't understand what you signed to obtain your driving licence.
 
Pumper_Sue said:
With respect it is only you who seems to have the problem.
Your best bet is to email the DVLA and ask them to clarify what they mean as you don't understand what you signed to obtain your driving licence.
Click to expand...
Timlagor said:
I suggest you read the original post again: that wasn't me.
Click to expand...
From your posts I'd say you do have a problem. Both with the DVLA forms/info; and the rules. (As a non driver I've not dealt with them, so can't make comment on them.)
 
Pumper_Sue said:
The question I have to ask is why was the Dr stopped in the first place and why was he asked to do a blood test? ....
So I suspect there's a lot more to what you are saying then meets the eye.
Click to expand...
I suspect there was much more than being "near a car accident" to it too.
 
trophywench said:
what's wrong with people these days, who apparently can't read or if they can, can't understand what they have read?
Click to expand...
Where did the "can't read" or "comprehend" come from?
 
I shouldn’t be replying to this thread, because I don’t drive a car. I do drive a mobility scooter on the road, fully taxed and insured. I would never drive it with a BG less than 5, if I were relying on fingerprick testing.

The big advantage I have is the Libre. A 4.8 with an upward arrow, no problem. A 4.8 with a level arrow and trace, dubious because of the exertion of driving. A 4.8 with a downward arrow, eat something and wait.

Anyone just using a blood test sees 4.8. Is it any wonder why the DVLA insist on 5?

And yes, I do carry Jelly Babies in the glove box.
 
You could have 5.5 and know you were heading for a crash with or without CGM.

The issue isn't so much the insistence on a 5 (which I do object to because as you correctly say 4.8 is often no problem) -it's the complete failure to give clear guidance that is an outrage
 
I go with my personal mantra...”if it’s under 5 ...I canny drive”. Keeps me safe
 
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