A Guide to filling in your Diab1 Medical form

🙄Thanks I'll take a look. I rang DVLA last week to tell them Ive had to switch to insulin for my pre-existing diabetes treatment whilst pregnant and they said no problem they will write to me to confirm that I do not need to do anything so long as I'm off insulin 6 weeks after birth. Today I get a letter thanking me for informing them I have gestational diabetes -arghhh!
 
I've just had a letter from the DVLa stating that I must renew the photo on my driving licence as it's out of date. I'm now 69 and don't know whether to renew my licence or not. I'm on 5 insulin injections daily, and think they will knock me back anyway and say I mustn't drive. We may be moving to the country and I may need to drive, although I haven't driven for two years. What does anyone think?
 
glorybean said:
I've just had a letter from the DVLa stating that I must renew the photo on my driving licence as it's out of date. I'm now 69 and don't know whether to renew my licence or not. I'm on 5 insulin injections daily, and think they will knock me back anyway and say I mustn't drive. We may be moving to the country and I may need to drive, although I haven't driven for two years. What does anyone think?
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It doesn't matter how many injections you have a day just as long as you have not had 2 hypos needing assistance by a third party.
You must renew your photo as your licence is none valid without it and you could also have a massive fine.
If it help at all my uncle has just renewed his licence and his 76 and been on insulin for 48 years. 🙂 Obviously if you have no intention of driving then write back and tell them so then you will be removed from the computer data base.
 
I've got some questions?

The quesiton that asks:
When there talking about low blood sugar do they mean just in genral or servere low bloodsugar?

(If two or more) when having these episodes of low blood sugar.. Did you need help from another person?. What confuses me is is it asking as in per year or in general etc... as the only time (As you don't count episdoes when you were given help but could of helped yourself). I've had to have help was back in 2014 when i ended up in a diabetic coma and in hospital for a week but never since then

Also not related to diabetiies but it asks whether you can read number plate within 20 meters how far is 20 meters because i'm fine when i cycle round. I dunno what my / is on a Snellen scale as i've never been told.

Also what if you don't see your GP? As i've never had to see my GP. Since i go to the diabetic clinic and also who is a GP? Is the GP the same doctor that signs your prescriptions? and is consultant one of the staf you see at diabetic clinic or ?

ps also where it asks about other clinics. it says in the guide. Give the name of any other clinics you attend for reasons other than diabetes. i don't go to any other clinics other then the diabetic clinic

A
 
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Randomdiabetictype1 said:
well yes i applied for my provisional and got the DIAB1 form
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I've just looked at my last form I filled in, which was revised in Oct 13.( it says that in the top right hand corner)
If yours is the same form (or the wording is similar)
The question about severe hypoglaecemia (3c) says 'in the last 12 months' so, 2014 event doesn't have to be mentioned.

For q2a, who do you see? If you are seen at a hospital, then I assume it's either a consultants clinic,( it normally says on your hospital letter who the consultant is, even if you saw another doctor when you actually went.) If you only saw a nurse, then tick 'Nurse specialist at hospital clinic' Any of the boxes where you don't see those people, leave the box blank.

If you don't go to any other clinics, just leave the box blank.

The 20metre thing for reading a number plate. ..At your test, the examiner will point out a car, and ask you to read the registration number. It really is that basic! The best way of finding out if you can, is to pace out twenty metres down a street, from a car you don't know, ( a metre is normally one big stride) turn round when you've counted twenty paces, and see if you can read the number plate of the car you started by. ( resist the temptation to look at the number plate before you start pacing, it makes it easier to read if you already know what the letters should be)

I think @eggyg has recently renewed her licence, and will have done the up to date form, I hope what I've said still relates to the form of its been revised recently.
 
Dreadful at our local test centre cos to get 20m away from anything in their carpark, the only carpark, with no on street parking) you have to stand in the middle of the road! They cross you over the road whilst explaining this but also say if you can't - then they'll measure it exactly for you. I don't think that's absolutely acceptable TBH but what can they do and OTOH since it's only approx another 1.5m - should you be let loose on the road in the first place if you can't?
 
I don't see my GP from one year's end to the next unless I'm ill otherwise than re diabetes. I do however see a nurse twice a year, once for all the toe tickling etc and once for my annual asthma check. My diabetes consultations are with the diabetes clinic at the hospital. Never stopped em renewing my licence.
 
Whatever you do while completing the DIAB1, do not tick the No box in Q1.5. They will immediately revoke your licence, without making any further enquires. They adopt a policy of Shoot First and ask questions later.
 
Which is very sensible, right? Better safe than sorry. If someone - mistakenly in your case - tells them they’re not safe to drive, then of course they’ll revoke that person’s licence.

Think about all the other drivers on the road. Would you want the DVLA to be casual about their fitness to drive? Epilepsy, heart conditions, dementia, etc etc. Let’s let them all drive while we investigate what they might or might not have meant on their medical form

I know you’re very aggrieved about your situation, but the DVLA didn’t initially know you’d made a mistake ticking that box and so their revocation of your licence is understandable while they do further checks.

Driving is a responsibility not a right. I’m very happy that checks are done on drivers with medical conditions. Yes, I disliked it the first time I had to fill out the special diabetes/insulin form because it made me feel different to my peers and that made me both upset and annoyed, but I soon realised that the stringent checks protect me and my family too because they’re applied to other drivers as well as me.
 
Thank you Inka.

Ok, take swift action when there is the possibility of Hypos that are not anticipated by diabetics who are on insulin. However that does not exclude the necessity for the Drivers Medical Group to design forms that are unambigous, to have effective channels of communication in place and the application of due diligence when dealing with their customers.
I might be cynical but it seems that making a fuss by the use of Subject Access Requets, which cannot be ignored, using the formal complaints procedure including the involvement of Independent Complaints Assessors and the threat of MP involvement, leads to an improved response from DMG. I am disinclined to touch my forelock and thank them for their kind actions. I believe that no government body should not be accountable for its actions.
 
Managed to pass my vision test yesterday at Specsavers, who will inform the DVLA immediately. My GP was able to send in a satisfactory DIAB3 form covering Hypo awareness. Has anybody any idea how long it takes the Drivers Medical Section to issue a new licence?
 
Good news @Ron Ashworth I don’t think anybody could tell you how long it will take, but id hope now you have the medical and vision proof you need it won’t be too much longer.
 
Licence reinstated today, 3 working days after Specsavers Tests. Licence renewed for one year, when I will have to reapply. Likely to be off insulin permanently after Practice Nurse agreed to 3 month trial without insulin injections.
Thanks for the advice on this site. Actually the Complaints team at DVLA were instrumental in expediting the issue of new licence. I have now to decide if I continue with my complaints which have reached the stage of a referral to an Independent Complaints Assessor.
 
Me too Inka. Wonder if creating a fuss by utilising Subject Access Request legislation and making formal compliants, made a difference.
Just a tip. Using the online statement of your licence details can reveal a reinstatement before the licence card drops through your letter box.
Nil carbarundum. Don't let the bastards grind you down.
 
I don’t know, Ron - possibly it ‘marked you out’ somehow and meant your licence was expedited. It could also just be the length of time you’ve waited. It all depends on their system really. Once they were happy with the hypo side, if they were only waiting for the vision check, then receiving that might have triggered an automatic issue for your licence.

Whatever the reason, it’s still good news though and must be a big relief for you
 
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