Dvla

[scotstigress]

dutifully informed the dvla of me newly aquired dependance on insulin, got a letter today telling me i now only qualify for a short term license which will be reviewed every 3 years. my entitlement to drive will expire on the 12th of december and unless i fill in yet another form and send it back i will be driving illegally. i know it is no big deal for some people but im a little paranoid it feels like im being judged, that i cant be trusted to look after myself enough to retain my fitness to drive....😡

 

[kojack]

Get your GP to support your application. Thankfully the law was changed for T2 unless there are other diabetic induced complications.

 

[Alan221]

Scots, don't worry about it. I filled the forms out and got my licence no hassle. One thing to remember is that you need to be at least 5mmol to drive, so test before you get behind the wheel. Don't risk a hypo, the consequences don't bear thinking about.

 

[rubymurry]

Hi there!
I felt a little upset when I had to fill the forms in. However, I have always received my licence very quickly. You just get used to the three year form filling. Before I get in my car, I always test blood sugar. i find that this is the best thing to do, because if the blood sugar was low.......well you know exactly what could happen! I've been a diabetic for a very long time. 44 years, and even when I got my licence way back then, this was the procedure. Well the first time, a chap came out from DVLA to meet me and double check that I could read a number plate from the required distance!

 

[Daisy]

Hi there Scottigress - This is a copy of a post I wrote in another thread about driving...As much as I used to react against the 3 year license - I completely agree with it. Although mostly well controlled - (T1 for 35 years) in 1999 I was driving up and down to Yorkshire every weekend to look after my Dad who was dying - this put a lot of stress on me - with no warning my blood sugar went low on the Alconbury's on the A1 and I wrote off my car. Luckily I was fine - but it gave me a real wake up call. No matter how well controlled we all think we are - and I used to think I was invincible - occasionally you will get a low out of the blue for no reason and while driving this can be fatal. This is why the DVLA must check that you are reasonably well controlled. I lost my license for a year but now have it back and am back to renewal every 3 years - which is great. You are not allowed any form of passenger vehicle such as bus, mini bus or LGV or LGV. The passenger vehicles I get - as you could be endangering the lives of others - the LGV and HGV I guess are bacause if you do crash you cause more trouble?? It does seem unfair especially if you are well contolled but if you weren't - would you want to put other people's lives as well as your own at risk? Also - it is very easy to renew your license - it really is no trouble and you can still drive while the DVLA have it!

 

[scotstigress]

cheers daisy, i know its for the greater good, i guess ill get used to it. just starting my diabetic journey so im sure ill come up against alot of things in the future...lol. glad i have all of you lot to talk too and ask advice, its good to have a sounding board to vent frustrations and share the good times..

 

[kojack]

Advice I was given; check bg before you set off, stop about every hour and check your bg. If it's below the limit, raise your bg before you carry on with your journey.
Twice this week, Wednesday and today, bg< 3.0% Sorted it with a carb boost and a slow release carb and retested after about 30 min. when it was 6.0 / 6.2 respectively.

 

[stute]

Just applied for my 7.5 ton licence C1 that is. for the fifth time, this is on a yearly basis, so far so good. My consultant is in my favour to drive, as he checks me out yearly, and there are no complications. I stand up and fight for my entitilments, until otherwise. After all its my living. I am on insulin, i am on the carb counting method. which entails several injections a day.

 

[xbethanyx]

some people only get one or two year licences.. you were a lucky one getting a three year licnece! 😉

 

[chris.farrar]

I know DVLA are very difficult but the advice is get your doctor to tell them you good control, there are very definite rules within the EU and UK for type 1 diabetes but I think there are changes ahead in legislation in line with the new medications now available, all the DVLA guidelines were drawn up over 20 years ago.