New EU Driving Rules for Type 1 Diabetes Could Spell Danger

[Northerner]

Patients with type 1 diabetes experiencing recurrent severe hypoglycemia have stopped reporting these episodes to their diabetes care team as a result of new EU driving regulations, a study from Denmark published online October 6, 2014 in Diabetes Care has discovered.

The new rules mean diabetes patients can lose their driving license if they report two or more severe hypoglycemic events within a year; the (perhaps-unintended) consequences of this change are dangerous because of the potential for an increase in traffic accidents, say the study authors.

Prior to the new regulations, which came into effect in 2012, patient reporting of hypoglycemic events was ad hoc, and this depended on the clinician, the patient, and their mutual relationship, explained lead author Dr Ulrik Pedersen-Bjergaard (Nordsjællands Hospital Hillerød, Denmark). "The clinician could prohibit driving temporarily based on a general medical judgment. Authorities were informed only if the patient did not comply with the clinician's instructions," he said.

But now patients are expected to report to their clinician, who is responsible for taking appropriate action and who will inform authorities in case of noncompliance with the restrictions. This could jeopardize doctor-patient relations, Dr Pedersen-Bjergaard added.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/833362

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[Vicsetter]

I would like to see the statistics on the number of accidents attributed to hypos. Where is the proof?

 

[Minnie19]

Hello,

My name is Helen and I have been a type 1 insulin dependent diabetic for the past 18 years. I am on an insulin pump and have excellent control of my diabetes. My Hba1c is good at 51mmols, and I have full awareness of hypo's. I am also a community nurse and use my car for work to get me around to see my patients as needed, therefore I particularly monitor my levels very closely due to driving.

In June 2014, I suffered two hypoglycaemic episodes during the night time whilst I was in a deep sleep. This was a very unusual occurrence for me and was caused by a sudden increase in temperature whilst I was also under a large amount of stress trying to work full time hours whilst completing a stressful university module. I did require assistance from my partner on both occasions and they occurred within a week of each other. Following support from my Diabetes Specialist Team my basal rates were adjusted and I had no further episodes, my consultant luckily also put in writing that he was happy for me to continue to drive as I am very vigalant at checking my blood glucose levels and monitor them as per DVLA guidelines before driving.

When reapplying for my Driving Licence as normal, I ticked yes to the box which said that I had required assistance from another person to treat two hypoglycaemic episodes within the past 12 months. There was no room to go into details around the context of these hypos and so I attached a letter with my application. On the 21st October I recieved a letter stating that my licence had been revoked on the basis of these two hypo's. When I contacted the DVLA they advised me that they did not need to contact my GP or Consultant to look into my medical records and I automatically no longer met the driving licence criteria. I find it both ignorant and discriminative that the DVLA do not consider these factors as diabetes is a complex condition to manage and if a Consultant thinks someone is medically fit to drive then their professional opinion should be taken into account. After lots of research and letters to raise awareness of this problem it is clear that this rule has come from the EU legislation brought into place in 2011.

I am currently in the process of appealing to the DVLA to try and get my licence back. However, I felt that even if there is minimal chance of me not getting my licence back that i simply could not just sit here and do nothing. So after letters and emails I have now set up a petition which can be accessed here:https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-dav...ed-carefully-in-the-context-of-the-individual

I completely agree with what you are saying. Many people have contacted me to say that they would now not tell their doctors or the DVLA if they had concerns about their blood glucose levels. I find this frightening and will have a devastating effect on an individuals risk of complications in the future. I feel it is such a shame that people are having to resort to this because of fear of situations like myself. I myself would not do this, even now despite having it happen to me, I know that the DVLA have wrongly taken my licence and I will fight to try to make a difference to this narrow minded directive!

Please read, sign and share the petition and if anyone wants to contact me you can do so on here or on Facebook where I have set up a group called Action for Diabetic Drivers. I hope that this petition can at least bring the concerns to the government so that these regulations can be reviewed and hopefully prevent this happening to other diabetics. I would also love to hear from anyone that has done this before or is going through the same problem. I hope that it is the case that there aren't many of you, but from my research I worry that this probably isn't the case. Wish me luck!!

Helen Nicholds
Action For Diabetic Drivers

 

[trophywench]

Well, we all said that would happen.

I can't avoid it as they download my pump and meter whenever I go to the hosp! and cross examine me.

I expect there is abuse anyway with some people deciding not to bother to test before they drive and/or test every 2 hrs during driving. It's all very well making US responsible - but if we were responsible we'd have a) tested anyway and b) discussed hypos with our clinician to find a way to stop em. All they have done in effect is remove their own safety net !

Just when DUK had got DVLA to extend the three years business too. Thanks Denmark ......

 

[Highlander]

People will be telling little white lies. Can you blame them!

 

[HOBIE]

Good Luck Minnie 😉

 

[zuludog]

I think that more & more people will become, as the saying goes, economical with the truth
What did they expect?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I just use 2 meters if having a problem with hypos. Obviously I also wont and don't get behind the wheel of my car until problem sorted.

 

[Aoife]

I just use 2 meters if having a problem with hypos. Obviously I also wont and don't get behind the wheel of my car until problem sorted.

I am the same, I have a second meter with several less than desirable results on it, needless to say, this meter never makes it to clinic!