DVLA and hypos

[Landymech]

What you need is two meters if you feel hypo then use your hypo meter if fine then use your usual meter 🙂

Yeah your right Sue, I'll order one now. My own fault I know, I feel as if dvla see my good results then they think that I should never have a hypo or lower blood sugar ever again ha ha
I applied for my C1 licence almost 4 years ago, failed to get my C1 but kept my normal car licence for 3 years, seems to be a double sided sword now if applying for C1
My GP is off on the sick at the moment,un-beknown to me but went in yesterday to see if he could give evidence of my knowledge that an impending hypo is on its way, and was sent in to see a doctor whom I've never seen and she started giving me all negatives as soon as I walked in, I got really upset, told her Ive had a gutsfull of all this, saying to her she doesnt understand the pressure, the finger prick that wont stop bleeding till its all over my clean clothes etc and I walked out. Im waiting for the young open minded doctor to come back.
Thanks for the support. 😉🙂

 

[novorapidboi26]

Surely the only way to determine [prove] if someone might not have very good hypo awareness is by the occurrence of the "severe hypo" requiring third party assistance, during the day....

It's pretty difficult to prove that you do have the awareness as opposed to proving that you do not....

 

[Landymech]

Yes it is difficult to prove but somehow I have to, and I'm very honest, and haven't needed assistance recognising an oncoming hypo, I just graze through my working days, my diabetes is always on my mind, and my life is the same old s**t 5 days a week (apologies for all the 'me &I's) the rest of the weekend I'm in the garage helping people
Thanks novorapisboi26 you understand where I'm coming from, this episode of life is adding years onto me, as my mam would say, love her...

 

[Landymech]

Update on licence application....I'm still not driving.saw a consultant 3 weeks ago showed her my blood monitor and results, 3 results in the last 3 months were below 4, I explained that 2 were low due to a bout of gastroenteritis (in bed for 2 days) the other was from after a Sunday afternoon nap. Dvla needed examples of my monitor (the low readings) she sent a full report about my control and hypo awareness and reactions. I kept ringing dvla as I had to reapply for my licence (I'm the same person, a bit older, more haggered, about to loose my job, just bought a new house with my pregnant girlfriend) it's as if I'm an imposter, they also needed me to let them access my medical files again (3rd time this year). Found out yesterday they have written to my consultant wanting even more information, who has just taken 2 weeks Christmas leave. Can they determine so much from my blood sugar monitor which has never been calibrated yet it's the only item that has put my life into absolute chaos??

 

[Northerner]

Very sorry to hear how this is dragging on for you It's pretty clear that whoever is dealing with this doesn't really understand the issues Do you know what extra information they want? 3 perfectly explainable hypos in 3 months is pretty good going, I certainly wouldn't pass that test if they think it is concerning. Do they ask 'ordinary' people if they've ever been drunk in the last 3 months (but not been near a car)?

 

[HOBIE]

Good luck sorting Landymech 🙂 Life at times !

 

[Landymech]

Another update, dvla sent a letter to my consultant, who quickly got me in and asked the same laborious questions about do I recognize oncoming hypos and how do I deal with them, checked my BGM a few low readings a few months ago of 3.8, 3.5 and wrote these down on the dvla form with time and dates. this will now drag its sorry ass for the next month or so probably between civil servants to judge me and my life. Getting cynical I know however I dont think the outcome is going to be in my favour.

 

[HOBIE]

You should be ok but if you needed help for the hypo its a little different. If you have two occasions when you have been in the back of a whi van with blue things on the top. Good luck & let us know how it goes. 🙂

 

[Landymech]

Yes, I will try and keep updates ongoing.The hypos were at home and getting things done, can't really remember if it was a busy day, but I had no help and just normal BG testing, felt a bit sweaty and slight headache, so I tested. I'm always aprehensive testing my blood now in case its below 4. Just getting on with it.... Thank you for your support.

 

[HOBIE]

Yes, I will try and keep updates ongoing.The hypos were at home and getting things done, can't really remember if it was a busy day, but I had no help and just normal BG testing, felt a bit sweaty and slight headache, so I tested. I'm always aprehensive testing my blood now in case its below 4. Just getting on with it.... Thank you for your support.

No problem Landymech

 

[Landymech]

Hello everyone, an update from the dark side. My diabetic 'specialist'/consultant had written a medication result and my blood monitoring results and a management plan including carbo counting at the end of November. Faxed it off to DVLA (08458500095) then rang them and they said another form had been sent to my consultant who had just gone on holidays for 3 weeks over christmas. Then a phone call out of the blue asking me can I get to the clinic urgently to assist filling the same form out that was filled out by the dvla's independant consultant in July, I said I can't get there urgently as I cant drive! I got there within an hour and waited 2.5 hours to see consultant then the form was filled in. I asked if they would fax it as it gets seen by dvla quicker. They posted it. The form wasn't filled in properly by my consultant according to dvla. I rang my consultants secretary to inform them and was swiftly said that when they received the form again they will double check its filled in correctly and I asked them to fax it to dvla. The amended form was posted some time later. My licence was revoked mid September so I have been off the road since then, my 6 month pregnant girlfriend and have moved house and are currently renovating our new home and she is struggling to drive now.
I received my redundancy letter from my employer yesterday and have 28 days left to work with them as I am unable to drive and they need a mechanic who can drive.
I will be ringing the dvla next week for an update...

 

[Northerner]

I'm really sorry you are encountering such dreadful bureaucracy @Landymech, a catalogue of unnecessary delays I'd be tempted to write to my MP, daft as it may sound it might be one way to ensure you get a positive outcome soon. I hope this is very close to getting sorted, it must be very stressful for you both

 

[Landymech]

Hello again, well the good news is I have my licence back, it took 5 months to get it though, lots of stress and sleepless nights. Im the same person who lost licence but it has made me even more aware of driving whilst being diabetic.Good control from the start is the key, keeping bloods above 4 on the meter isnt easy but there are ways. Ask to see the forms the doctor/consultant writes before documents are sent to dvla as they WILL pick up any discrepancy. Good luck to anyone applying for truck licence. Thanks for all your responses

 

[Robin]

Hello again, well the good news is I have my licence back, it took 5 months to get it though, lots of stress and sleepless nights. Im the same person who lost licence but it has made me even more aware of driving whilst being diabetic.Good control from the start is the key, keeping bloods above 4 on the meter isnt easy but there are ways. Ask to see the forms the doctor/consultant writes before documents are sent to dvla as they WILL pick up any discrepancy. Good luck to anyone applying for truck licence. Thanks for all your responses

That is good news, but did you manage to salvage your job?

 

[trophywench]

Or if not - get a better one!

 

[HOBIE]

Hello again, well the good news is I have my licence back, it took 5 months to get it though, lots of stress and sleepless nights. Im the same person who lost licence but it has made me even more aware of driving whilst being diabetic.Good control from the start is the key, keeping bloods above 4 on the meter isnt easy but there are ways. Ask to see the forms the doctor/consultant writes before documents are sent to dvla as they WILL pick up any discrepancy. Good luck to anyone applying for truck licence. Thanks for all your responses

Pleased for you Landymech 😎

 

[Steve Liddle]

So basically if you tell your GP stuff and you get confused over what you should be and what needs to be told and they will then go with worst case scenario and you lose licence ?

Have understood it to be a hypo when you needed the help of another person. If you do not need the help of another person AND you recognise the symptoms of a hypo and treat it, then this is also good 🙂

 

[pav]

So basically if you tell your GP stuff and you get confused over what you should be and what needs to be told and they will then go with worst case scenario and you lose licence ?

Have understood it to be a hypo when you needed the help of another person. If you do not need the help of another person AND you recognise the symptoms of a hypo and treat it, then this is also good 🙂

I have been on the receiving end when a doc wrote a medical report for a different type licence, and they put in the report that I had a hypo. What the doc missed out of the report that it was self treated like any of my hypos I was having at the time. Luckily for me sense prevailed and my version was accepted.

 

[Everard]

"I told the consultant this and the findings sent to DVLA."

treat conultants and doctors like mushrooms, keep them in the dark and feed B######t

 

[JPM8426]

Hello, I'm a type 1 diabetic for over 30 years, average control of it. My driving licence was revoked by DVLA due to the independent diabetic consultant advised that I had had 2 episodes of hypoglycemia during the 3 months of monitoring. These 2 episodes were early evening after an afternoon nap. On waking up I recognised the symptoms and reacted with lucozade drink. Checked my sugar levels which were 2.9 the other 3.6, low I know but on waking up I reacted accordingly on my own, after the lucozade I immediately had food to keep it level. I told the consultant this and the findings sent to DVLA. I was applying for my C1 licence (small truck and large van) weeks and months passed. Then a letter from DVLA revoking me from driving. My GP has tried supporting me writing letters saying I am fully aware of severe hypoglycemia but DVLA aren't having any of it. They sa I am have 'reduced awareness of a hypoglycemia event' with a significant foreseeable increased risk of severe hypoglycemia' I now need to reply with further evidence ie 3 months of monitoring to suggest the findings from the consultant report is no longer applicable.
Anyone had this and overcome it all? I'm about to lose my job then probably my house and sanity. Any help out there?

Hi, This is exactly what I'm going through, only I didn't have any sever hypo's just a couple of normal hypo's (all self managed). The majority of my low readings where whilst I was sleeping as well.
I've sent the DVLA everything they've asked for twice and got nowhere. Same situation regarding employment and mortgage.