The Borderer
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
😱what should I do if I'm prone to hypos when driving long distances give up my licence or take regular stops how does the law stand on this please ??
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worried about driving
- Thread starter The Borderer
- Start date
- Status
margie
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Your situation is complicated a bit by the fact that you live in France. However, if you have a UK driving licence here is a link to some information that will help you.
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Living_with_diabetes/Driving/
though you may also wish to check out the law in France.
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Living_with_diabetes/Driving/
though you may also wish to check out the law in France.
Hi,
If you read through this,
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/topics/behaviour/fitness_to_drive/index_en.htm you will see that you can drive providing your diabetes is controlled.
If you read through this,
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/topics/behaviour/fitness_to_drive/index_en.htm you will see that you can drive providing your diabetes is controlled.
The Borderer
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
thanks
Hi , thanks very much🙂
Hi , thanks very much🙂
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It might be worth getting your medication reviewed if the hypos are frequent. 🙂
The Borderer
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
🙂I stopped taking cliclazide ages ago which has helped i take 50mg of sertraline & 20mg Tahor first thing I honestly dont know what else to do because I'm desperetley trying to loose another couple of stones
I would love to read your poetry i get one every day from poemhunter.com
I would love to read your poetry i get one every day from poemhunter.com
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Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Borderer. Would you consider joining in with our weight loss group
http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=22 ?
You may find there are some very positive steps you can take to lose the weight and to improve your control.
It is always advisable to tell your doctor if you stop taking any meds, especially if they've been causing you hypos. ANy further treatment may be based on the assumption that you're still taking the gliclazide and could cause you further problems.
I hope we can help you with at least some of your concerns.🙂
Rob
http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=22 ?
You may find there are some very positive steps you can take to lose the weight and to improve your control.
It is always advisable to tell your doctor if you stop taking any meds, especially if they've been causing you hypos. ANy further treatment may be based on the assumption that you're still taking the gliclazide and could cause you further problems.
I hope we can help you with at least some of your concerns.🙂
Rob
This is my reading of the situation but it is best to check out the details for yourself.
First, If you have a valid UK licence then you can legally continue to drive on that in France (albeit with the anomally of an incorrect address) If you hand in a UK licence, it might prove difficult to get it back if you are in France
If you already exchanged your licence for a French licence, (or if you decide to do so), it is considered a permanent licence, so you don't have to inform the authorities about your diabetes .(unlike people who develop diabetes before passing their test who are now subject to quite stringent regulations/temporary licences)
However, if you have an accident that involves any injuries or if you commit a 'serious' traffic offence and/or lose your licence for more than a month,( and they discover that you are diabetic) things change. You would be asked to see the medical commision and they would decide whether you could have a licence or not (you would in these cirumstances be compelled to change your licence for a French one, just as you do if you lose points for speeding etc).
Your licence , if granted, would become temporary.(6 months-5 years) ,subject to an examination by the medical commision each time to renew it.
for details
http://www.maison-diabete.com/actualites/37-permis-de-conduire-et-diabete
Now, whether it is safe for yourself and others to continue driving when you know you have hypos whilst driving is very diffferent. Personally I think that you need to work with your doctor on avoiding them. Until you have got things better controlled I think it would be better to stop driving, rather than at the very least, risk the loss of your permanent licence.
First, If you have a valid UK licence then you can legally continue to drive on that in France (albeit with the anomally of an incorrect address) If you hand in a UK licence, it might prove difficult to get it back if you are in France
If you already exchanged your licence for a French licence, (or if you decide to do so), it is considered a permanent licence, so you don't have to inform the authorities about your diabetes .(unlike people who develop diabetes before passing their test who are now subject to quite stringent regulations/temporary licences)
However, if you have an accident that involves any injuries or if you commit a 'serious' traffic offence and/or lose your licence for more than a month,( and they discover that you are diabetic) things change. You would be asked to see the medical commision and they would decide whether you could have a licence or not (you would in these cirumstances be compelled to change your licence for a French one, just as you do if you lose points for speeding etc).
Your licence , if granted, would become temporary.(6 months-5 years) ,subject to an examination by the medical commision each time to renew it.
for details
http://www.maison-diabete.com/actualites/37-permis-de-conduire-et-diabete
Now, whether it is safe for yourself and others to continue driving when you know you have hypos whilst driving is very diffferent. Personally I think that you need to work with your doctor on avoiding them. Until you have got things better controlled I think it would be better to stop driving, rather than at the very least, risk the loss of your permanent licence.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Sertraline isn't an anti-diabetic, it's an anti-depressant, Tahor is a brand name of Atorvastatin so that isn't either.
So why would you hypo now you are not taking the Gliclazide - which can and does cause low BG's and are not taking any other anti-D's?
So why would you hypo now you are not taking the Gliclazide - which can and does cause low BG's and are not taking any other anti-D's?
The Borderer
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hypo's/hyper's
sorry its taken so long to get back its taken ages to get rid of the side effects of taking medication for being wongly diagnosed with bipolar !!
you are quite right about Sertraline & Tahor I can only apologise for getting my wires crossed ,I often have a hypo in the afternoons but thats usually because of poor planning , I now only take Gliclazide in the late afternoon and sometimes a Glucor when my readings go above 150-250 ( 8.33/13.88 ? ) when I'm sitting infront of the tely ect sometimes being really anxous about something can make me high ?
Many thanks Jason PS I meant to put an red face at the end not a wink !
thanks for the above and I am
sorry its taken so long to get back its taken ages to get rid of the side effects of taking medication for being wongly diagnosed with bipolar !!
you are quite right about Sertraline & Tahor I can only apologise for getting my wires crossed ,I often have a hypo in the afternoons but thats usually because of poor planning , I now only take Gliclazide in the late afternoon and sometimes a Glucor when my readings go above 150-250 ( 8.33/13.88 ? ) when I'm sitting infront of the tely ect sometimes being really anxous about something can make me high ?
Many thanks Jason PS I meant to put an red face at the end not a wink !
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Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Jason.
Stress (physical or emotional) will usually send you high. The fight or flight response elevates the BG in case you need to beat up a grizzly bear or sprint away from the neighbouring tribe.
I can't really offer any advice on the low BGs.
Rob
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well Glucor is Acarbose. My understanding is that Acarbose stops the absorption of certain carbohydrates so it is only supposed to be taken prior to eating carbs. I think. I presume if you haven't eaten and don't eat then it just lowers your BG anyway, but I don't know.
Gliclazide I know is an oral BG lowering drug but I think it worrks another way.
IMHO and it is only my opinion, a) you ought to discuss this with your doc so you understand what why and when and b) perhaps you might be better off on Metformin which works constantly in the background as opposed to 'just when' - then you also can adjust the carbs in your diet to a level where your BG stays even all day? Plus if you reduce em but still eat plenty of protein, fats, veg - the weight might start to come off too.
What exercise do you do? - it's a 3 pronged treatment for diabetes, whatever type you are - medications if necessary, diet and exercise. But nobody here is gonna suggest you eat only lettuce or take up marathon running (unless you want to do the latter LOL) Give us a clue and we'll try and give some pointers.
How do you actually treat your hypos? - are you perchance over-correcting and going too high, which your body then subsequently repays by sending you hypo again? (reactive hypo) Not crtiicising you if you do do that - cos it's a trap most of us have fallen into from time to time!
Gliclazide I know is an oral BG lowering drug but I think it worrks another way.
IMHO and it is only my opinion, a) you ought to discuss this with your doc so you understand what why and when and b) perhaps you might be better off on Metformin which works constantly in the background as opposed to 'just when' - then you also can adjust the carbs in your diet to a level where your BG stays even all day? Plus if you reduce em but still eat plenty of protein, fats, veg - the weight might start to come off too.
What exercise do you do? - it's a 3 pronged treatment for diabetes, whatever type you are - medications if necessary, diet and exercise. But nobody here is gonna suggest you eat only lettuce or take up marathon running (unless you want to do the latter LOL) Give us a clue and we'll try and give some pointers.
How do you actually treat your hypos? - are you perchance over-correcting and going too high, which your body then subsequently repays by sending you hypo again? (reactive hypo) Not crtiicising you if you do do that - cos it's a trap most of us have fallen into from time to time!
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