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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.
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Dvla
- Thread starter leaver01
- Start date
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Catwoman76
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hello Oynx Too much Insulin and not enough food would give you a hypo(low blood sugar) and not enough Insulin and maybe too much food would cause a Hyper(very high blood sugar), It's trying to keep the blood sugars at a good number(4 to 7) before meals etc.Hope this has been helpful. Sheena🙂
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Anyone on insulin has to inform DVLA. You will have to fill in forms, give contact details for any medics who treat you - GP and hospital doctor (if you have one). You will be able to continue driving cars and motorbikes, but not anything bigger without special clearance. DVLA can issue 1, 2 or 3 year time limited licences - 3 is the most usual. A few months before licence is due to expire, you will sent forms to fill in, and may have to see a doctor for examination if you haven't seen a specialist recently. DVLA will send you information about blood glucose limits before and during driving, need to have fast acting sugar in car etc. You will probably need to test blood sugar more often than a non-driver, so make sure your GP knows you drive so they will prescribe enough.
Before you die from a hypo or hyper (not too likely, so don't worry about that!) you become unsafe to drive - which might make you a risk to other road / pavement users. You need to know how to treat both situations - ask your medical team for guidance / instruction re testing etc.
Before you die from a hypo or hyper (not too likely, so don't worry about that!) you become unsafe to drive - which might make you a risk to other road / pavement users. You need to know how to treat both situations - ask your medical team for guidance / instruction re testing etc.
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Catwoman76
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I think you would have to tell the DVLA if you had any type of long term medical condition(I think it can affect your insurance, but I'm not a driver
)Hypo's are low blood sugars,you may feel tried, shaky, sweaty, I also had numbness around my mouth, and you need to take food to get your sugar level back up, extremly low blood sugars can lead to passing out, but please don't frighten yourself about the negative things, get some Glucose tablets from a chemist and keep some with you when you are out and about and some at home. I know people have been hospitalised, but having good control and good knowlege is a big factor with diabetes. I'm sure lots of other people of the forum have felt the same way as you. Take care Sheena🙂
Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Just to add, I, like many on here, have been driving as a type 1 diabetic for 26 years and have never killed anyone (or myself) yet. I've had plenty of occasions when I had to pull over and eat something sugary and wait 10 minutes or so before setting off again but it's no big deal.
And I've never had to pay extra on insurance (they have to tell you if you do) nor have I had any problems getting my licence renewed, which you don't have to pay for every 3 years.
But you can't drive a bus, a lorry or a big van if you are type 1. Nor can you fly a plane or do a solo parachute jump without home office permission.
Those haven't been a problem so far. 🙂
Rob
And I've never had to pay extra on insurance (they have to tell you if you do) nor have I had any problems getting my licence renewed, which you don't have to pay for every 3 years.
But you can't drive a bus, a lorry or a big van if you are type 1. Nor can you fly a plane or do a solo parachute jump without home office permission.
Those haven't been a problem so far. 🙂
Rob
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Actually for DVLA, the key point is insulin or not; if you're put on any other sort of treatment (eg tablets, Byetta etc) you don't need to inform DVLA. Everyone with type 1 diabetes needs insulin, most type 1.5 LADA, and some type 2, usually after years of diet & exercise, then tablets, but some type 2s never need insulin. Whatever treatment you're on, you still need to monitor your blood glucose to a greater or lesser degree to ensure your levels are safe for driving.
MrsSharpwaa
Well-Known Member
A less likely scenario but a valid point nonetheless is that the doctor may consider that there are aspects of the diabetes which render the person unsafe to drive (e.g. no hypo awareness). This applies to Type 1 and Type 2. In the case I know of the person with diabetes (type 2, metformin and gliclazide) is no longer allowed to drive.
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novorapidboi26
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
For type 1s my consultant said, about a year back that in order to pass your medical questionaire for the DVLA it is a requirement to show blood readings in the form of your monitor (holds many hundred results).
Has anyone else heard that from there docs?
As I am on MDI and a dafne grad that wont be a problem but there are some out there who dont really test that much........
Also on the insurance topic, I have never told the many companies I have used that I have diabetes........I feel naughty now, but ultimately they cant bump up the price for that as the DVLA are responsible for monitoring your condition, if you have a license, you are deemed as fit as the next person in my eyes.
Has anyone else heard that from there docs?
As I am on MDI and a dafne grad that wont be a problem but there are some out there who dont really test that much........
Also on the insurance topic, I have never told the many companies I have used that I have diabetes........I feel naughty now, but ultimately they cant bump up the price for that as the DVLA are responsible for monitoring your condition, if you have a license, you are deemed as fit as the next person in my eyes.
Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
You should always tell your insurance company. They have a right to refuse you cover or bump up the price, but I think they must tell you why.
As far as doctors go, I've only ever filled the form in to consent them contacting the consultant and then got my licence back. I had to chase up the consultant one year for his signature but no probs otherwise.
Maybe your doctor might want to see your meter to cover himself before signing you as fit but the DVLA only ask for his report. Ive never shown my meter results to a doctor for the reason you said. I only tested when I was high or low so was largely meaningless.
Rob
As far as doctors go, I've only ever filled the form in to consent them contacting the consultant and then got my licence back. I had to chase up the consultant one year for his signature but no probs otherwise.
Maybe your doctor might want to see your meter to cover himself before signing you as fit but the DVLA only ask for his report. Ive never shown my meter results to a doctor for the reason you said. I only tested when I was high or low so was largely meaningless.
Rob
novorapidboi26
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I have never been asked for them either only told that he would be checking......I suppose if you attent a clinic and its clear your not testing or making an effort at all it might make him question the patients ability.....
Im led to believe that the doc receives a report to complete... I am always asked if ive had any hypos and when...by the doc
This, ive seen, is recorded on my notes and can be used towards the report.
I never tell my doc when ive gone too low... just in case at the end of my 3 yr licence and the DVLA want another report, the doc uses this info.... which could show poor control and deem me unfit to hold a licence.
But just to clarify, I always test before driving and have only had a handful of hypos.
This, ive seen, is recorded on my notes and can be used towards the report.
I never tell my doc when ive gone too low... just in case at the end of my 3 yr licence and the DVLA want another report, the doc uses this info.... which could show poor control and deem me unfit to hold a licence.
But just to clarify, I always test before driving and have only had a handful of hypos.
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Until recently, people on tablets for diabetes did have to inform DVLA, but no longer. I must admit I feel this leaves a group of people on unrestricted licences who are at risk of hypos.
There are other reasons why someone might have a licence revoked eg loss of feeling in feet (relevent for foot pedals, although if only left foot is affected, an automatic car / limited automatic licence would be an appropriate adjustment), poor eyesight etc.
When informing car insurance companies, I've only ever been asked (a) have I informed DVLA? and (b) what licence do I hold? (ie 1, 2 or 3 year time limted licence) My understanding is that if you withhold infomation from an insurance company, such as the fact you have type 1 diabetes, you could have any claim refused and insurance withdrawn, which may make getting future insurance with other companies more difficult.
When declaring hypos to doctors, I feel it's always wise to point out that I can always detect hypos before they get dangerously low - in fact, I can feel low at 4.5mmol/l, always before reaching 3.5. It's the truth, but also supports my case for being safe to hold a driving licence.
There are other reasons why someone might have a licence revoked eg loss of feeling in feet (relevent for foot pedals, although if only left foot is affected, an automatic car / limited automatic licence would be an appropriate adjustment), poor eyesight etc.
When informing car insurance companies, I've only ever been asked (a) have I informed DVLA? and (b) what licence do I hold? (ie 1, 2 or 3 year time limted licence) My understanding is that if you withhold infomation from an insurance company, such as the fact you have type 1 diabetes, you could have any claim refused and insurance withdrawn, which may make getting future insurance with other companies more difficult.
When declaring hypos to doctors, I feel it's always wise to point out that I can always detect hypos before they get dangerously low - in fact, I can feel low at 4.5mmol/l, always before reaching 3.5. It's the truth, but also supports my case for being safe to hold a driving licence.
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