Type 2 , metformin, also 1 x 18u of insulin - driving issue?

[Jenny105]

Hi As a type 2 I've just started to use 1 x 18 u insulin to bring my very high readings down. I may need 20u , This is injected once a day on waking. I have never had a hypo, my readings are too high. This is unusual and I dont know how low my readings will go. Under 10 its hoped. Presumably if they ever go below 5 say , the insulin units will be lowered .
Does anyone have any experience of this treatment and driving. ? Do I have to notify DVLA. Neither my GP nor my DN have broached this

 

[Robin]

Hi As a type 2 I've just started to use 1 x 18 u insulin to bring my very high readings down. I may need 20u , This is injected once a day on waking. I have never had a hypo, my readings are too high. This is unusual and I dont know how low my readings will go. Under 10 its hoped. Presumably if they ever go below 5 say , the insulin units will be lowered .
Does anyone have any experience of this treatment and driving. ? Do I have to notify DVLA. Neither my GP nor my DN have broached this

Short answer, yes you need to tell the DVLA. They need to be told for any insulin use that’s going to last more than three months.
Have a look at the Government leaflet, for starters. There’s info here, and a link to the leaflet and the online application.

Diabetes and driving

You may need to tell DVLA if you have diabetes, depending on the treatment you're getting

www.gov.uk

When you’re ready to fill it in, ask on here if there’s anything you’re unsure about. You have to be very careful around filling in the questions about hypos. If you’ve never had a hypo, you have to tick the box to say you understand what a hypo is, and what the symptoms would be, but if you’ve never had one, you tick the ‘never had a hypo' box and skip to the next section. If by the time you come to fill the form in, you have experienced one, you have to say that you felt the warning signs and didn’t need anybody else's help treating it. (It doesn’t count if someone handed you something sweet, if you would have been capable of getting it yourself)

 

[Jenny105]

Short answer, yes you need to tell the DVLA. They need to be told for any insulin use that’s going to last more than three months.
Have a look at the Government leaflet, for starters. There’s info here, and a link to the leaflet and the online application.

Diabetes and driving

You may need to tell DVLA if you have diabetes, depending on the treatment you're getting

www.gov.uk

When you’re ready to fill it in, ask on here if there’s anything you’re unsure about. You have to be very careful around filling in the questions about hypos. If you’ve never had a hypo, you have to tick the box to say you understand what a hypo is, and what the symptoms would be, but if you’ve never had one, you tick the ‘never had a hypo' box and skip to the next section. If by the time you come to fill the form in, you have experienced one, you have to say that you felt the warning signs and didn’t need anybody else's help treating it. (It doesn’t count if someone handed you something sweet, if you would have been capable of getting it yourself)

Thanks. My DN will be ringing next week I'll run this past her. I dont know if this insulin regime will last for more than 3m. Its experimental at the mo. Thanks for the 3m tip. and form

 

[Dragonheart]

Yes you do, and test before/during the drive as described below

Driving and diabetes

For most people with diabetes, driving isn’t a problem, and they can hold a driving licence and carry on driving. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about diabetes and driving. "As someone with diabetes, it's really important that I'm aware of the rules around driving in the UK" - Mim...

www.diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes and driving

You may need to tell DVLA if you have diabetes, depending on the treatment you're getting

www.gov.uk

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hopefully your Dr or nurse would have remembered to tell you when the insulin treatment had lasted for 3 months.

Would have been a bit of a glaring omission if they hadn’t.

And yes as @HSSS says, remember that you now have to take a BG meter with you on any driven journey (even if you are sure your levels are still too high to worry about), and you need to take a reading before each journey and every 2 hours on longer drives.

Hope the insulin continues to gradually bring your levels down @Jenny105

 

[Lucyr]

Do I have to notify DVLA. Neither my GP nor my DN have broached this

Yes you must notify the DVLA and it’s your responsibility to do so, even if GP hasn’t mentioned it.

You must test your blood sugar before driving and make sure you know the rules around testing, hypos and driving.