Very confusing!

[JTL]

I've tried to find an answer on here but failed ... sorry if it's already been answered a million rimes.
I'm type 2 on Metformin and feel I have it all well under control.
I've asked docs and everyone gives a different answer.
What are the legal blood lows that say it is illegal to drive?
I've been told three four five.
I aim to be seven all the time as near as damnit and that's where I am.
If I feel very tired I know before testing I will be five or below.
At what low can it go before I'm illegal and in fact ... is here a high legal limit?

 

[AlexandraMarnie89]

Not sure about high but you have to be above 5.6 before driving. I'm actually not sure if it's strictly "illegal" to drive below this but it's definitely not advised and your insurance would be void if you had an accident and were below this. Maybe someone else can clear up the actual legalities?

 

[Jaylee]

The official rule is "5 to drive".
Your meant to test at least two hours prior to getting behind the wheel. If driving for any length of time? Every two hours.
A T1 insulin controlled below this meter reading could get done if caught, under the road traffic offence act as "driving under the influence"..
Which when you look at it that way, kind of makes sense..! If involved in an accident you maybe required to meter test blood as well as a customary breathalizer if the police get involved?

I seem to remember I had to sighn a document thrown in with the DVLA blurb when I renewed my licence earlier this year....

 

[Diddly]

This may help.

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Living_with_diabetes/Driving/

t1
Diagnosed 14/02/2013
44 years old
basal/bolus

 

[JTL]

DVL guidelines ....

The DVLA advise that if blood glucose is 5mmol/l or less you should take carbohydrate before driving. If it is less than 4mmol/l do not drive.

But on the front page of this site we are told ...

Blood Sugar Level Ranges

Target Levels
by Type Before meals
(pre prandial) 2 hours after meals
(post prandial)

Non-diabetic 4.0 to 5.9 mmol/L under 7.8 mmol/L
Type 2 diabetes 4 to 7 mmol/L under 8.5 mmol/L
Type 1 diabe4.0 to 5.9tes 4 to 7 mmol/L under 9 mmol/L
Children w/ type 1 diabetes 4 to 8 mmol/L under 10 mmol/L

So according to this none diabetics are driving illegally?

 

[jack412]

on metformin you have no driving BG level. it's only for those on hypo inducing drugs [insulin]

 

[Jaylee]

DVL guidelines ....

The DVLA advise that if blood glucose is 5mmol/l or less you should take carbohydrate before driving. If it is less than 4mmol/l do not drive.

But on the front page of this site we are told ...

Blood Sugar Level Ranges

Target Levels
by Type Before meals
(pre prandial) 2 hours after meals
(post prandial)
Non-diabetic 4.0 to 5.9 mmol/L under 7.8 mmol/L
Type 2 diabetes 4 to 7 mmol/L under 8.5 mmol/L
Type 1 diabe4.0 to 5.9tes 4 to 7 mmol/L under 9 mmol/L
Children w/ type 1 diabetes 4 to 8 mmol/L under 10 mmol/L

So according to this none diabetics are driving illegally?

I suppose a child with type 1 would fall into that category...

If insulin controlled you are required to have a blood sugar content above 5mmol.
As for alcohol The UK legal limit for drivers is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

With alcohol..

For the police to be able to require a breath test, a driver must have either:

(a) committed a moving traffic offence, e.g. speeding, failing to observe a stop sign, having a defective light etc.,
(b) have been involved in an accident to which the police were called, or
(c) have given the police grounds to suspect they had consumed alcohol above the legal limit, e.g. by draving erratically or walking unsteadily before getting into the car. It is questionable whether the mere fact of having driven out of a pub car park constitutes reasonable grounds for suspicion.

With me I don't touch so much as a shandy if intending to drive..However If had been observed doing the above, passing a breathalzer test & during database checks discovered to be T1. It is assumed the next step would be a blood sugar test... (After ascertaining I'm not stoned.)

I don't know anyone who has been blood tested on this basis.. It would be great if someone had input on this procedure??

 

[SugarPlums]

Never forget the establishment have access to these Forums.

 

[Scandichic]

I've tried to find an answer on here but failed ... sorry if it's already been answered a million rimes.
I'm type 2 on Metformin and feel I have it all well under control.
I've asked docs and everyone gives a different answer.
What are the legal blood lows that say it is illegal to drive?
I've been told three four five.
I aim to be seven all the time as near as damnit and that's where I am.
If I feel very tired I know before testing I will be five or below.
At what low can it go before I'm illegal and in fact ... is here a high legal limit?

I was concerned about this but they only seem interested in you if you are on insulin. My insurance company weren't interested at all!

 

[douglas99]

The official dvla guidelines, (in the UK anyway) don't have a BG limit for type 2 diabetes.
They don't limit the risk to insulin users either, as some drugs, Sulphonylureas or Glinide, can over stimulate the pancreas and lead to hypos.

However it is caused, more than one episode of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months is notifiable.
The definition of severe hypoglycaemia means the assistance of another person is required.

 

[jack412]

I've tried to find an answer on here but failed ... sorry if it's already been answered a million rimes.
I'm type 2 on Metformin and feel I have it all well under control.
I've asked docs and everyone gives a different answer.
What are the legal blood lows that say it is illegal to drive?
I've been told three four five.
I aim to be seven all the time as near as damnit and that's where I am.
If I feel very tired I know before testing I will be five or below.
At what low can it go before I'm illegal and in fact ... is here a high legal limit?

I think a T2 on metformin has no restriction, you can drive on 2,
a hypo inducing med. like insulin is where the restrictions come in, isn't it?

 

[douglas99]

I think a T2 on metformin has no restriction, you can drive on 2,
a hypo inducing med. like insulin is where the restrictions come in, isn't it?

maybe in Australia, but not entirely correct in the uk.

No restrictions in the UK for the op though.

 

[JTL]

Forgot all about this thread but it is nearly six months old.
I think it turned out I was ok as type 2 which is a bit daft really as I have hypos and hypers if I'm not careful.