Driving

Status
Not open for further replies.
sofaraway

sofaraway

Senior Member
Just wondering if you guys always test before driving?

I can't imagine not doing it, and am always surprised when I find out that people don't.

I also feel uncomfortable getting into a car with other diabetics when I know they haven't tested before driving. i don't actually say anything because I'm not sure how to without coming across badly.
 
Last edited:
Welcome Holly DS.

If you are using insulin then you must test before driving. If you crash your car due to having a hypo you could invalidate your insurance. If you don't test and run someone over and kill them due to having a hypo then you could get sent to prison. DVLA says test before driving. If i am below 5 then I will have a snall snack first.

Now you know you can start 🙂
 
I don't test, but I don't have problems with hypos. I also either eat beofre I drive, or don't take insulin within a few hours of driving.
 
Interesting on this!

Hi
It depends on who you speak to its a grey area, up until 3 months ago I rarely tested before driving. But since going on a pump it appears as over time it seems to be reccommended to test. If you are confident and easily recognise hypo symptoms it would seem logical that you could get away with testing. Or if like me I have lost most of my ability of recognising a hypo creeping up I always test before getting into the car and at regular intervals on longer journeys...😉
 
At the moment I'm exchanging my Dutch driving license to a British one and since I don't use insulin I could just fill in the form and start the procedure. I have to say I find that strange, because you can get a hypo when you're on pills as well.

Anyway, I never test before I drive. Having said that, I should add that I am usually not alone in the car, so the passenger can drive if I'm too tired (I am very careful with that!) and I recognize hypo symptoms fairly early on. I make sure I always have sugar tablets or food with me and will definitely stop the car if I am unsure about being able to drive.

If I would get hypos (never had a fullblown hypo...knock on wood) I would definitely test more and before getting in a car would be a good moment to do so.
 
I always test before driving. If I am < 5 I usually correct this fairly quickly with a couple of digestive biscuits.

If it's a longish journey ( >3.5 hrs) stop every 1 / 1.5 hours for a break and to test bg.
Some journeys seem to have more lowering effect than others. Suppose it's in rush hour traffic in an area I am not familiar with.
 
it's advised by diabetes uk, and my nurses have said similar, that you should test before driving. However unlikely it could be or however good awareness you have, if you do have an accident while hypo not only would it be dangerous for you and others you also run the risk of being charged with dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention and, maybe most bizarrely driving under the influence of drugs ie insulin ( very strange but sadly true)
 
It is a legal requirement to test before you drive if you are on insulin.
Not 100% sure of this but believe your blood sugar has to be above 5 before you drive too.
If you hypo at the wheel of a car your licence is gone for a year or until you can prove that you are in control of your diabetes.
If you cause a crash due to a hypo you can be jailed for driving whilst driving under the influence of drugs.
You also can not hold a licence if you are hypo unaware.
 
yep always test before driving, I would not risk it. Although can hypo anytime I feel better knowing what my sugar is when I get in the car.

And had some scary readings just after breakfast when I expect it to be around 15, as just eaten, sometimes been around 5-6. as I drive for at least 30 minutes would not risk it without eating something else, just not worth it.

Would like to know where you would stand if you were to have a hypo and god forbid accident. Would you loose your liscence if you could proove via meter you had appropriate blood sugar before getting behind the wheel?
 
I don't drive, but it strikes me the law is quite vague on some things. Being ever cautios, it is nice to know safety is a consideration. It is less likely, but not impossible to hypo if you are on tablets, but it is always best to err on the side of caution.

I have had many arguments (and especially comming up to Christmas) because I wont give people alcohol if I know they are driving. I don't want to be run over by someone who is drunk and I will not be the cause of an accident...
 
When informing the DVL about a diagnosis of diabetes, you will have received a leaflet about legal requirements. These state that you must test before driving every time. If you are under 5, then you have to correct that, and then not drive for 45 minutes. This only applies to people on insulin or tablets, not diabetes controlled by diet and exercise alone.
 
anon said:
When informing the DVL about a diagnosis of diabetes, you will have received a leaflet about legal requirements. These state that you must test before driving every time. If you are under 5, then you have to correct that, and then not drive for 45 minutes. This only applies to people on insulin or tablets, not diabetes controlled by diet and exercise alone.
Click to expand...


Sorry, but that's not true (what's in bold). I called the DVLA to ask about the fact that I have diabetes (I take pills) and wanted my Dutch license exchanged to a British one and I did not have to report it, have nothing tested and I will not get any additional information. Therefore I can conclude that I do not have to test my blood before I drive.
 
Dvla

I had to call DVLA when i was mistakenly diagnosed type 2 and was told i just had to let them know as was only on tablets, as soon as i went onto insulin confirmed type 1 they wanted my license back and i now get a short term license of 2 years and funnily enough it turned up in the post this morning, you only have to let them know when you go onto insulin not tablets 🙂
 
nicky_too said:
Sorry, but that's not true (what's in bold). I called the DVLA to ask about the fact that I have diabetes (I take pills) and wanted my Dutch license exchanged to a British one and I did not have to report it, have nothing tested and I will not get any additional information. Therefore I can conclude that I do not have to test my blood before I drive.
Click to expand...

I am on tablets but was advised by insurers to test as indicated in my earlier post in this thread.
No matter what your regime, to have a hypo when driving is extremely dangerous.
 
so if you dont test what can they charge you with (if you dont crash etc)? am i going to be pulled over and my meter checked for date and time last checked? i never test before driving unless i feel hypo symptoms coming on.
 
Have the rules been changed recently? I'm sure that when I was diagnosed the letter that was sent to me said that as tablets could cause hypos then they had to be informed. If the rules about having to be over 5 to drive have changed, then that means I don't have to test so often now. Must check!
 
I don't drive but I was curious and found this pdf on the DVLA site, called 'At a glance
Guide to the current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive', issued Sept 08: http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/medical/aagv1.pdf

The stuff about diabetes starts on page 27. In the appendix at the end of the Diabetes chapter on page 30, regarding insulin treated diabetics, it states "Carry your glucose meter and blood glucose strips with you. Check blood glucose before driving (even on short journeys) and test regularly (every 2 hours) on long journeys. If blood glucose is 5.0mmol/l or less, take a snack before driving."

Also apparently if you have a hypo you have to stop the car and get out of the driver's seat, treat it and wait 45 mins before driving again. I had been told that the police can charge you if you are hypo and in the driving seat of a car, even if the car is stationary, but had not really believed it, but it seems it may be true.
 
glucose testing before driving....

:( I'm not sure about regal requirements etc with regard to glucose testing before driving, whether you are diagnosed type 2 or type 1. My personal opinion is that regardless of law, any responsible diabetic should test before driving. All you diabetic drivers out there that don't test before driving, ask yourself this... god forbid, how would you feel if a loved one of yours was seriously hurt or killed in an accident caused by a diabetic driver hypo, who did'nt test because legally they don't have too..? I know this comment will not win me many friends for saying this but, sometimes it's not about what you HAVE to do, but what you SHOULD do....:confused:
 
annemarie08 said:
:( I'm not sure about regal requirements etc with regard to glucose testing before driving, whether you are diagnosed type 2 or type 1. My personal opinion is that regardless of law, any responsible diabetic should test before driving. All you diabetic drivers out there that don't test before driving, ask yourself this... god forbid, how would you feel if a loved one of yours was seriously hurt or killed in an accident caused by a diabetic driver hypo, who did'nt test because legally they don't have too..? I know this comment will not win me many friends for saying this but, sometimes it's not about what you HAVE to do, but what you SHOULD do....:confused:
Click to expand...

I totally agree, none of us is infallable and however much we feel we would be able to feel a hypo before it got dangerous there is always that possibilty that we wouldn't, it's not only about our own safety and what trouble we could get ourselves in if we didn't but there are so many other people who could be harmed by the results of a hypo driver that I really can't see why anyone would want to take that risk???
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top