If you have diabetes and drive, there are a number of factors which can play a part in whether you need to inform the Driving and Vehicle Licence Agency (DVLA).

There is a lot of confusion about what needs to be done and additional forms that need to be completed if you have diabetes and are applying for a licence.

Essentially, you need to tell the DVLA about your diabetes depending on

how

it’s treated and the

type of licence

you want or are applying for.

This section details the forms you will have to complete when applying for a driving licence and the conditions you must meet in order to receive a driving licence.

Do I need to inform the DVLA?

If you don’t tell the DVLA about your diabetes or any other medical conditions that affect your driving when you should, you can be fined up to £1,000 and could even be prosecuted if you are involved in an accident as a result.

For all If any of the following factors apply, you must inform the DVLA (denoted by * in the Figure 1):

• If you have suffered more than one episode of severe hypoglycemia within the last 12 months (driving cars or motorcycles only)
• If you have suffered any episode of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months (buses, coaches or lorries)
• If you experience severe hypoglycemia whilst driving
• If you lose awareness of hypoglycemia
• If you have
  
  visual impairment
  in both your eyes or in one eye if it is your only fully functioning eye
• If you need to have
  
  laser treatment
  in both your eyes or in one eye if it is the only fully functioning eye
• If you have
  
  poor blood circulation
  or loss of sensation (such as caused by
  
  neuropathy
  ) that means you need to drive only particular types of vehicles, such as those with automatic gearboxes or with hand operated accelerators or brakes
• If you develop a
  
  complication of diabetes
  or any other medical condition that affects your ability to drive safely

Car and motorcycle drivers on insulin

If you treat your diabetes with

insulin, you must by law inform the DVLA. You will need to obtain or download a form called ‘DIAB1’ which will ask for more information about your diabetes. This will include asking about the name and address of your General Practitioner or consultant.

They will also ask for your permission to approach these people directly, if necessary, to obtain information on your fitness to drive. This does not mean, however, that you will be refused a licence.

Watch the video below to see how to complete the DIAB1 form.

If your diabetes is treated with insulin, a driving licence will be issued for one, two or three years, and will you allow you to drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes. When this licence expires you will receive a reminder to renew the licence and you may also be sent another Diabetic 1 form to complete with more up-to-date information. Renewals are free of charge.

If your diabetes is treated with tablets, you are not always sent the Diabetic 1 form. In general, you will be issued with a full driving licence, providing that you do not have any other medical condition that might prevent this.

There is a charge for renewing this licence after the age of 70. This is the same as for anyone else in the UK who does not have diabetes.

If you have gestational diabetes and are put onto insulin temporarily, you need not inform the DVLA unless the insulin usage continues for more than 3 months or if you experience disabling hypoglycemia.

Applying for a C1, C1E, D1, DIE, C, CE, D or DE licences

If you take medication to control your diabetes, you will need to inform the DVLA and fill in a ‘VDIAB1SG’ form. The form asks a number of different questions about how your diabetes is managed as well as asking for details of your GP and consultant.

In order to apply for a licence to

drive buses, coaches or lorries, you must ensure that you meet the following qualifying conditions:

No episodes of hypoglycemia which have required assistance whilst driving within the last 12 months. You must undertake to regularly monitor your blood sugar levels at least twice a day and at times relevant to your driving.

If your application is successful, then you will need to continue to monitor in this way, particularly at times relevant to driving larger vehicles than cars or motorcycles.

Every 12 months, you will need to arrange to be examined by a hospital consultant who specialises in diabetes. At the time of this examination, the consultant will need to review your blood glucose records for the previous 3-month period.

You must have no other medical condition which would bar you from driving these vehicles.

If you are unsure whether or not you are able to apply for this licence, contact the DVLA directly.

How much diabetes affects driving largely depends on the medication you use, how well controlled your diabetes is and whether you have any other health conditions or complications that impair your ability to drive.

Safety at the wheel is always important and the most common risk amongst people with diabetes in general is very low blood sugar –

severe hypoglycemia
.

Note that driving regulations are updated regularly and the government’s website provides the information, documents and contact numbers.

Driving

Driving Licence and Informing the DVLA

Diabetes and Driving as Part of your Work

Driving and Diabetes Complications

Driving and Hypoglycemia

Diabetes and car insurance

Diabetes treated with lifestyle

If you treat your diabetes with lifestyle and are not prescribed

diabetes medications, then you do not need to inform the DVLA unless one of the following apply:

• You have a complication of diabetes or another condition that affects your ability to drive

If you do not need to inform the DVLA, remember that your motor insurance company will need to be informed for your insurance to be valid.

Transcript

People with diabetes are fine to drive as long as certain medical requirements are met. Depending on your medication regimen, you may have more or less relaxed conditions under which you can drive.

You should inform the DVLA if any of the following conditions apply:

• You are taking insulin
• You are applying for a license and are on tablets
• You have lost awareness of hypoglycemia
• You have difficulty with your vision that could affect your driving
• You have complications that could affect your driving

If you’re on insulin, you will be put onto a 1, 2 or 3 year license which will need to be renewed before its expiry.

You need only inform your insurance provider if your license changes to a different form of restricted license.

If on you’re on insulin or other medication that can cause hypoglycemia, it’s important that you test blood glucose levels before driving. Do not drive unless your levels are above 5 mmol/l.

Also be aware of any active short term insulin that might be in your body still. If you’re on a long journey, it’s important to stop at least every couple of hours to re-check your sugar levels.

If you are at risk of hypos, it’s very important that you have full awareness of when hypos are happening. If you’re in doubt about whether you may be low whilst driving, find a place to stop and test your blood sugar levels.

People with diabetes can drive HGVs. People on insulin will be issued a 1 year license which will need to be renewed each year. People on tablets that can cause hypos will be issued a 1, 2 or 3 year license which will need to be renewed at the appropriate time. People with diabetes on other regimes should not need a restricted license unless any other medical conditions apply.

Transcript

Diabetes treated with tablets

You will need to inform the DVLA if you are at a high risk of severe hypoglycemia. This will depend on the type of medication you are on and individual circumstances, so it is best to check with your doctor if you are at risk and need to

inform the DVLA

Sulphonylureas and glinides are two types of tablet medication that are more likely to lead to severe hypos.

Other circumstances may also lead to a risk of hypoglycemia so it is best to check with your doctor.

The DVLA must be informed in the following circumstances:

• You or your doctor think you at high risk of having severe hypoglycemia
• You develop
  
  hypo unawareness
  – an impaired ability to spot the signs of low blood sugar
• You have a severe hypo whilst driving
• You develop a complication of diabetes, or another condition, that affects your ability to drive
• Group 1 license (car and motorcycle): You have two episodes of severe hypoglycemia in the last 12 months – whether driving or not
• Group 2 licence (bus and lorry): You have any episode of severe hypoglycemia – whether driving or not

Diabetes treated with insulin

In most cases, if your diabetes is treated with

insulin
you need to inform the DVLA. Your driving licence will need to be renewed every 1, 2 or 3 years depending on your circumstances.

An exception to this is if you are put on insulin for a temporary period of 3 months or less and your doctor does not regard you at a high risk of severe hypoglycemia.

For all drivers on insulin, the DVLA will need to be informed if:

• You develop hypo unawareness
• You have a severe hypo whilst driving
• You develop a complication of diabetes, or another condition, that affects your ability to drive
• Group 1 license (car and motorcycle): You have two episodes of severe hypoglycemia in the last 12 months – whether driving or not
• Group 2 licence (bus and lorry): You have any episode of severe hypoglycemia – whether driving or not

Hypos and staying safe driving

If you are at risk of hypos whilst driving, it is important to take precautions to prevent this occurring. People at the highest risk of hypos include people on insulin, sulphonylureas or glinides.

Precautions to take include:

• Do not drive if your blood glucose is less than 4 mmol/l – or your blood sugar has been under 4 mmol/l within the last 45 minutes
• Keep your blood glucose above 5 mmol/l when driving
• Test your blood glucose levels within 2 hours of each journey
• Test your blood sugar every 2 hours whilst driving
• Keep a hypo treatment within reach for every drive

Group 2 (bus and lorry) licence holders at risk of hypos will need to have a record of blood tests on the memory of a blood glucose meter. This is so that safety to drive can be assessed.

Keep hold of any blood glucose meters that you have used in the last 3 months.

Read more on

hypoglycemia and safe driving

Diabetes complications that may affect driving

Some

diabetes complications
may affect your ability to drive. These complications may include, but are not limited to, eye problems, nerve problems (neuropathy) or circulation problems.

If you have any doubt as to whether a complication of diabetes, or another health condition, affects your diabetes, it is best to check with your doctor.

Changes in blood sugar control can affect vision. The basic visual is to be able to read, with glasses or contact lenses if needed, a car number plate (made after 1 September 2001) from 20 metres. You must be able to meet this requirement each time you drive.