• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Driving......

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

becky_boo

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Ok so yo that know I was only diagnosed on the 27th of june last month! So still fresh to all this.

My question is about driving. Im not at the moment, my 60000 year old car finally gave out (He was good car but i knew that he was on the way to thatt big scrap heap in the sky when i couldnt drive 3miles without him having a heart attack) anyways so between cars at this moment in time.....

However I`m about to go into my final year at uni and to save money I decided to stay at home and drive up which is about an 1hr 20min drive. BUT now I have been chosen to deal with lovely type one.

So i am insulin controlled and it says everywhere i read i need to have three months of showing good control.....well I go back in two months.....and I am still in the honeymoon period so Im not really having much control over what's going on.....

So this i going to affect them lettin my drive isnt it?
Also I am worried about having to drive such a distance all the time and what if i have hypos or what ever, i know how to deal with them if i am driving but I am worried for them to happen in the first place!
But then If i cant drive how am i meant to get to uni! its just ahhh atm lol
I dont wanna have to get the train it would take over 2 hrs, three trains and two buses!!!

Im not sure if this all is a question or just ranting, but thoughts maybe? haha
Apart from all this Im still positive, putting together a youtube blog about my experiences, will post it on here when its done =) hope everyone else in diabetes land is ok?

Bekki:D
 
Hello Becky. I don't want to turn this thread into a rant about DVLA and their restrictions on diabetics, but from what I've heard lately, they're not much help. So I would avoid calling them directly. Their new rules are well-publicised and someone on here will be along in a minute to tell you where to find them. In the meantime, I would suggest contacting your heathcare team to ask how they deal with newly diagnosed people. They can't expect you to stop driving for three months while you get "good control". I was diagnosed 22 years ago and have never had what some people might call "good control"! As for driving and hypos, you just have to take whatever precautions you can, make sure you've got Lucozade in the car before you set off, things like that. It comes down to common sense, I find...
 
Hi Bekki,
have a look in the driving section as a couple of stickies to read re the rules for driving.

Also please get hold of your team and explain you need to drive to be able to travel back a fore for uni.
So one to one tuition is needed so you are safe and confident to drive.
 
becky_boo said:
Oh my bad I didnt see the driving section =P
Click to expand...

It's ok eye checks only come around once a year lol
hehe.gif
 
Hi Becky,
I was I diagnosed last year and was advised I could drive once my dsn was sure I had good hypo awareness and knew how to treat a hypo. This took about 6 weeks. You need to keep good records to persuade whoever is likely to complete the medical form that you are not a danger when behind the wheel.
Good luck.
 
Just wondering in this thread... if you're unable to drive because of diabetes do the DVLA compensate for this some how? I mean how much it frigging costs to learn to drive and then insurance on top and tax etc, surely they ought to be obliged to pay for us to get around in the mean time!
 
lizabetic said:
Just wondering in this thread... if you're unable to drive because of diabetes do the DVLA compensate for this some how? I mean how much it frigging costs to learn to drive and then insurance on top and tax etc, surely they ought to be obliged to pay for us to get around in the mean time!
Click to expand...

Lol Liz, dream on as they say. :D
Basicly your diabetes is your problem not the DVLA's.
 
Pumper_Sue said:
Lol Liz, dream on as they say. :D
Basicly your diabetes is your problem not the DVLA's.
Click to expand...

I do believe you would qualify for a free bus pass under the disability rules.


But I can't remember where I read that.
 
Just had this thought Becki - Uni's have 'Welfare teams' these days I believe?

Can you contact them to see if they can suggest anything sensible?
 
Due to the long distance drive it would probably be best that half way through your journey pull over & check your blood sugar levels : )
 
I have to say thank goodness for forums like these to keep people informed. My DSN (think she is just the practice?s nursing lead as she seems to know little about Type I) informed me there had been some changes but only really mentioned about testing before driving which is common sense anyway. I have only ever had one DSN who I would say was a ?specialist nurse?. It was the only time I have got my HbA1c below 7.0. Sadly she moved to the private sector when she was told she should spend less time with patients (I assume the accountant did not have medical problems himself).
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top