just got my letter from swansea

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joeefc

joeefc

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
they said they are happy for me to keep my car licence,but renew it every 3 years.but they have taken my c1 licence away from me,which i need for my job.but they have said i can reapply for it with a stict medical,has anyone applied for one and if so how strict.at the moment sugar levels still up and down,and just had my second hypo yesterday.be glad to here any advice on the subjet thanks joe.
 
hi joe. i havent had the medical but my mate who is a taxi driver (used to be a 7.5 ton driver) said it is just all about your diabetes and includes stuff like hypo awareness, how many hypo's you have had in a certain amount of time and also things like the general state of your sugar levels. best thing i could suggest is to contact the dvla and ask what the medical involves.

well best of luck and keep us posted on how it goes 🙂

mike
 
Hi Joe,

As Mike said its about your diabetes control, general health and hypo awareness/frequency, I haven't had to have a formal medical, just the chase around to see specialist opticians etc to please DVLA!

I would be tempted to make an appointment with your diabetologist to discuss if they think you'd be suitable to pass the medical, DVLA can be funny about releasing such detail. Your GP is perhaps less likely to be as aware about what DVLA are looking for and your suitability.

What we need to keep in mind is if you're newly diagnosed and your license has just been restricted DVLA may well consider there isn't enough history about your control to be able to grant an expansion to your license at the moment. And may perhaps want to consider your application again at a later stage.

On the point of employment, as a diabetic you're covered by the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) as such your employer might not be able to just heave you from their employment. Its not like drink driving where you can loose your job as you're unable to meet the requirements for your position.

The DDA requires that the employer makes 'reasonable adjustments' to cater for the disability. As such they may offer you a smaller vehicle to drive or an alternative job either on a permanent basis or until DVLA say yes. Of course driving is also subject to their insurers being happy to extend cover to you.

Good luck, hope you're back on the road soon!
 
thanks to you both for the info.yes i am still new to all this,i havent got a diabetologist just yet,still waiting for appointment ?.as for my job we do have a smaller van,but only enough work for part time driving it,havent told my boss yet as only got letter back yesterday.and i have just been signed of work for another 6 weeks due to my heart attack,thanks joe.
 
As you have mentioned a heart attack, the DVLA will also consider your heart health as well as your diabetes when assessing what licence to issue ie whether to add C1 to car, and for how long.
 
Hi,
I just got diagnosed 3 weeks ago and about the hypos don't worry. I had eight in my second weekend but now I am down to one every 2/3 days and managing a lot better. I am only 14 and managing well and I am sure you will do the same!
good luck!
 
I have had my C1 licence renewed for the last five years. as long as your HbA1c is not low, and test your self while you are driving, you should be ok.I will know when it is time to stop driving. untill then fight for right to drive. There is no evidence of diabetics of having any more road traffic accidents than any body else.
 
lynneb said:
hi,
do you have to inform dvla if you are diabetic?
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Hi Lynne,

Yes if you're type one or type two on any medication specifically for diabetes e.g. tablets or insulin. If you're diet controlled you don't need to inform DVLA.

It is advised that you inform your insurers, I'd go as far as to say even if you're diet controlled - they can't say you didn't tell them then!
 
licence

thanks, I am type 2 and only diagnosed last week, so new to all this, am diet controlled at the monemt, they want to try for 3 months.
 
Einstein said:
Hi Lynne,

Yes if you're type one or type two on any medication specifically for diabetes e.g. tablets or insulin. If you're diet controlled you don't need to inform DVLA.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but this is just not true (used to be). I suggest anyone who is concerned looks at the DVLA site to get the actual rules but basically well-controlled Type 2s on tablets without complications affecting driving do not need to inform DVLA.

Rona
 
Rona is correct but you do need to inform your insurers of your diagnosis
 
Are you sure you need to inform them? About 10 years ago it became wrong (I think even ilegal) for insurers to ask about medical conditions as it was classed as discrimination. I've told my insurers on the phone and was told it wasn't a problem or issue and they didn't need to know - so every year I've renewed with them, I've never mentioned it - I have on occasion told them my licence gets renewed every 3 years but have never been asked why.

Probably best checking but as far as I know they don't need to know...I'm with Admiral and they have been excellent.
 
My insurers said yes they needed to be informed - if it isn't declared and then an accident is deemed to be due to diabetes then I wouldn't be covered otherwise. In addition, when we told my husband's car insurers for me as second driver the premium went down!
 
hiya i'm in the same boat used to be class 2 driver but they took that away however still drive 7.5 ton but you do have to have a medical every year its mainly to see if you have hypo's that you never knew about (if that makes sense) you have to have it with your diabetic consultant its nothing to worry about really, although i have mine on monday 7th and yep i'm worrying about it 😱
 
It's always a bit of a mystery to me how the consultant is supposed to know about hypos experienced by anyone other than themselves. They rely on asking the person with diabetes and HbA1c. A very very low HbA1c would be difficult, but not impossible, to achieve without hypos, known or unknown. A high HbA1c could be "achieved" including some serious fluctuations, and some hypos to even out the hyperglycaemia.
 
I contacted Admiral and asked them about my diabetes but they confirmed that they didn't need to know about it, which is handy.
 
Admiral asked me to send them a copy of the letter from the DVLA so they know the DVLA is aware of my diabetes and it is treated with tablets and it is not a short term medical license.
 
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