Any tips for driving and diabeties?

[Randomdiabetictype1]

So recently i applied for my Provisonal lisence, I already got a form to send back a new photo and sign the form which i need to post tommorow. After that i assume you get another form because of diabeties? Correct me if i'm wrong. But when i eventually get my provisional. Do you guys have any tips. (I know you have to test before you drive) etc... Also how long do provisional lisences last? (i assume there's a expirray date when you get it)

 

[HOBIE]

I passed my Test 3 wks after my 17th B day. I have been T1 since being 3 a long time ago. My kids are doing there tests at mo & really good luck with it 🙂. I love to drive & have been to Asia & Russian Boarder. 😎

 

[pav]

I don't know if provisional licences have an expiry date as it's so long since I passed my test.

When I drive I test before the start of driving, which gives you the biggest window before you need to retest according to DVLA's guide lines of two hours, though with my erratic levels I test sooner, got caught out last night to a more rapid drop than normal with a 4.6.

I always carry in the car some hypo treats, my preference is wine gums, fruit pastels for the quick sugar hit and also carry some fruit biscuits Aldi do a nice one which comes in a pack of six with each pack in the multi pack having three fruit biscuits. Normally there is also a bottle of water and a small carton of fruit juice. I do go out during the day to places where it's not guaranteed to have food available, so these treats can come in very handy. If I know that there is a likely hood of no food I will take a packed lunch with me.

I also carry a spare meter in my coat as the main meter stays at home, which recent event this has paid off due to when testing I have found the meter broken. One advantage of my current meter is that it has NFC and a phone app so when the meter broke on the one occasion I could transfer the reading to the app to see what my level was like. The first time it happened I could not transfer the reading, so treated to how I feel and just had a quick treat.

Where ever I go in my coat i will have the treats and a pack of fruit biscuits, along with the meter. This may sound a lot for some, but my levels can be so erratic going from the teens to hypo within a couple of hours, I have to cover for this happening.

 

[trophywench]

YOU have to tell the DVLA you are an insulin dependent diabetic - when Joe Soap applies for a provisional how else would they know - the onus is on you and it's a legal requirement to do so, so if you don't you'll start off breaking the law from the outset - which isn't exactly the best place to start, is it? LOL

When I had my prov (1984) they used to last for a year, but I'm not certain now. I tried to look to check whether the application asks anything about your health (other than the standard can you read a numberplate 3 feet from your nose or however far it is these days) but seems impossible to check unless I want to apply for one!

 

[HOBIE]

My friend was 73 T2 & went for his Motorbike test. Good luck RD

 

[Redkite]

My son got his provisional licence recently - he downloaded the medical form from the DVLA website and sent it in with his application. His licence is valid for 3 years.

He tests BG before driving, and the rule is "5 to drive", so if he was under 5mmol he would eat a carb snack and make sure his levels were over 5. If hypo, you cannot drive for 45 minutes, even if your levels have returned to normal sooner.

 

[HOBIE]

My son got his provisional licence recently - he downloaded the medical form from the DVLA website and sent it in with his application. His licence is valid for 3 years.

He tests BG before driving, and the rule is "5 to drive", so if he was under 5mmol he would eat a carb snack and make sure his levels were over 5. If hypo, you cannot drive for 45 minutes, even if your levels have returned to normal sooner.

Tell him good luck & I hope it goes well 😉

 

[zuludog]

As far as I know, a provisional licence lasts for ever, till you pass

You must inform DVLA if you have diabetes. Depending on the type they will send you an assessment form, which may result in further enquiries and instructions. If you inject that will almost certainly mean you have to test before driving, and then at 2 hourly intervals
You should also inform your insurance company. There are not usually any problems about this, but nevertheless you must inform them.

This means you should have your meter etc in the car with you when you drive on a long journey. For a shorter trip to the shops or something like that I test and leave the meter at home.
But in any case, make a written record of it, just in case there is an incident

Feed the car - by that I mean keep some sugary snacks in the glove compartment. I use jelly babies, liquorice allsorts, and a couple of biscuit bars or cereal bars.
Also something to drink. You can use a small bottle of water or fizzy drink; as you are keeping it to treat a potential hypo it doesn't have to be diet, in fact it would be better if it did contain sugar. But I use those plastic pouches of drinks, like Capri Sun as they fit in the glove compartment easier
You could add a packet of glucose tablets, or perhaps you carry a packet with you anyway

It's very useful to have a headtorch in the car (even if you're not a diabetic) for fiddling about with meters, injecting etc, at night. It doesn't need to be an expensive one, you can find them for a couple of quid in discount stores

 

[Randomdiabetictype1]

Thanks guys still waiting to hear from DVLA. Applied online. Within 3 days through the post i got the form asking to sign and send another photo posted it that weekend and it's been 2 weeks still haven't heard back. Hopefully i'll get a letter this following week or tommorow.

 

[Ronnie Morrison]

Thanks Zuludog for the advice, you have given me a lot of tips, which is worth taking, you are right about the readings, mine too is erratic reading too. For example, when I get up about 5am I test myself I am most of the times between 4-8 then I have porridge then between then noon I drink fizzy water with lemon most of the time when I test myself my blood sugar is between 4-8 and then at lunch I eat something like rice, peas and corn with tofu, just small bowl and evening it is about 17-20, even though in between I drink a lot of water. At night I drink a herb that grows in Africa called BITTER LEAF which grows in West Africa, drink it before I go to bed, my blood sugar level becomes normal.

I do test myself before getting in the car, my reading before getting in the car sometimes the reading is crazy like 20, 19, 13.2 and crazy like that, I drink a lot of liquid, no too much fizzy drinks most I drink fizzy water from Sainsburys.

 

[pav]

Ronnie two of the foods you listed are deadly for me as they raise my levels sky high, in that porridge and rice are off my list of foods I can eat, fortunately I don't like rice that much if at all, just one of the ones to try it and see what it does, even eating a small amount sent my levels high. I used to eat porridge, but it's been ages since I had some as it's to processed for me. One problem is that we all react to foods differently and what one person can eat another can't. It could well be worth you testing before you eat and then two hours after eating to see what the rise is and bit by bit you can find foods you need to find an alternative to.

 

[Mark T]

...I do test myself before getting in the car, my reading before getting in the car sometimes the reading is crazy like 20, 19, 13.2 and crazy like that, I drink a lot of liquid, no too much fizzy drinks most I drink fizzy water from Sainsburys.

You might want to be careful with this; your judgement will be impaired if you are high as well. If you have an accident whilst driving with these sorts of levels you might find yourself getting prosecuted.

 

[Randomdiabetictype1]

You might want to be careful with this; your judgement will be impaired if you are high as well. If you have an accident whilst driving with these sorts of levels you might find yourself getting prosecuted.

How come from the form it was always to do with Hypoglycemia not Hyperglycemia. So how come they don't really ask about hyper?.


I sent the DIAB1 form by post on the 29th (used 1st class stamp) so i assume they got it on the 30th. So how long does it take for then to get back to you as i'm hopping it comes before my birthday?