Clarification please! Type 1 & the law on driving / blood tests

[Robin]

You are no longer required to report an assisted hypo if it occurs while you are awake

Shouldn't that read, 'while you are asleep?'

 

[HOBIE]

The two post Hope has posted are more than a year old

 

[Vicsetter]

Shouldn't that read, 'while you are asleep?'

Sorru, asleep at the time.

 

[C&E Guy]

Thanks for posting that. My consultant always says not to drive below 5. Not 4 as that says.

I really only do short, local drives. I don't always carry my BG meter with me though. Consultant never mentioned that but it was probably in the 3 yearly info pack. I've just not noticed it before.

 

[HOBIE]

Thanks for posting that. My consultant always says not to drive below 5. Not 4 as that says.

I really only do short, local drives. I don't always carry my BG meter with me though. Consultant never mentioned that but it was probably in the 3 yearly info pack. I've just not noticed it before.

I have meters in lots of places. Van, tool box, next to bed, car, kitchen. Hate not having one close. Good luck C&E.🙂

 

[C&E Guy]

I have meters in lots of places. Van, tool box, next to bed, car, kitchen. Hate not having one close. Good luck C&E.🙂

If you are using lots of different meters - do you even think about your 7 day, 14 day average or whatever??

 

[HOBIE]

If you are using lots of different meters - do you even think about your 7 day, 14 day average or whatever??

Its all down on my MEDTRONIC pump, which I down-load to DSN. 🙂

 

[Andy Milne]

I've posted elsewhere so this is a duplicate but does anyone know the rules for driving in France?
Andy

 

[mikeyB]

As I said in my reply to your other post, presumably you will have insurance cover, so just ask your insurance company.

 

[HOBIE]

Have a look on the web. Its a carry on but I have travelled a few times on motorbike. You have to have 2 blow in the bag alcohol testers, high vis & the French police have taken GPS off tourists. (so you don't use there good roads ?) Enjoy !

 

[Timlagor]

So far as I can tell there is no legal requirement to be over 5.0 mmol/L but I heard from my doctor that another specialist Diabetes Doctor had their license suspended for driving with iirc 4.3 (they were stopped *near* an accident they weren't involved in)

Non-diabetics should be under 5 'fasting' and it's likely that damage starts lower than they are sure of (6.5%HA1C is where they KNOW you are damaging yourself; Dr.Bernstein seems convinced 6% is bad -that's well over 5mmol/L but I see no reason to assume my body is happy always being over 5 especially given that I'm inevitably going to have some time higher). I suspect that if they made the >5 rule legally mandatory there might be a discrimination case to be made.

It's particularly aggravating that the rules are so very badly expressed: they issue "advice" but then require you to sign a statement that you will follow the "advice" -and then the advice doesn't say you have to be over 5 anyway but apparently they are suspending licences for not being over 5!

So if you want to be safe go over 5. If you want to pick a fight or complain to your MP there's ample grounds.

I had rashly assumed that driving in France was under the DVLA rules and can't find anything to say differently while on an UK license (usual caveats about Brexit)

Incidentally the Legislation seems to leave it at the discretion of the Minister and DVLA so the "guidance" is effectively all the law.
I haven't seen anything saying you have to show your BG readings or monitor to a police officer either... but it looks like the DVLA can basically take your license on a whim in any case: they have to make sure you're safe to drive but they don't have to let you drive just because you are.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

https://assets.publishing.service.g...e-to-insulin-treated-diabetes-and-driving.pdf these are the rules and are quite clear regarding the obligations of a diabetic using insulin.

 

[Timlagor]

They are not clear: having a snack is "advice" and it does not say anything about retesting or making sure your BG rises about 5. That's not at all the same as "we will suspend your license if we find you with a BG under 5". Indeed the clear rule that are not allowed to drive if under 4 implies that you ARE allowed to drive between 4 and 5.

Further calling it "advice" and then sending you a statement you have to sign to get a license that says something like you 'promise to abide by the advice' muddies it further (I can't find a copy of that statement online and foolishly didn't think to keep a copy so if anyone has one could they post it?)

 

[Robin]

Further calling it "advice" and then sending you a statement you have to sign to get a license that says something like you 'promise to abide by the advice' muddies it further

It depends how you define the word 'advice' really. We tend to use the word meaning, 'that’s what I'd do', but forget that it has a legal meaning, as in 'The police advised me of my rights' That means, they told you, they weren’t offering advice!

 

[Timlagor]

'advised me of my rights' is the "inform" meaning: it's never an order. That's clearly not the meaning in this case

 

[Ralph-YK]

I had rashly assumed that driving in France was under the DVLA rules and can't find anything to say differently while on an UK license

I'd expect it to be the same as most any law; local laws apply.