Advice needed on testing before driving

[Rob2006Scott]

I've just had my licence changed to a 3yr renewal. The DVLA sent sheet DIABINF (Diabetes information?) with my other papers. It states 5 or less, take a snack. 4 or less do not drive. Google brings up a PDF you can download, so have a read of the full thing. It also states check BG not more than 2 hrs before start of first journey and every 2 hrs whilst driving. Plus other advice.

I have been advised not to drive if under 5 and if under 6, take action.

Hope that helps a bit. I'm a new Type 1 and this is my first day on the forum.

 

[honda 123]

Hi
I'm after some advice on what is and isn't correct re rules on driving as a T1

I have until now, been under the impression that I should test EVERY time I get behind the wheel of a car.

I have been told today by my DSN that I am testing to much and that I should only be testing before meals, that as that same test is valid for up to 4 hours, so it is valid as the 'before driving' test too!
I'm so confused but feel this is wrong somehow?

Any thoughts?
Thank you.

Hi there, you have to test before driving and every 2 hours thereafter
The rule is under 5 can't drive. Dvla.

 

[June_C]

Having read all the rules, regulations and guidelines, I always make sure I'm at least 5.5 before I drive and also carry jelly babies and carbs in the car in case of a sudden drop, along with my meter to prove I've tested just before I drive. I'm damned if I'm going to give PC Plod a chance 'to take action', but more importantly, I want to be a safe driver and not risk other drivers or pedestrians.

 

[Rachette]

I've just had my licence changed to a 3yr renewal. The DVLA sent sheet DIABINF (Diabetes information?) with my other papers. It states 5 or less, take a snack. 4 or less do not drive. Google brings up a PDF you can download, so have a read of the full thing. It also states check BG not more than 2 hrs before start of first journey and every 2 hrs whilst driving. Plus other advice.

I have been advised not to drive if under 5 and if under 6, take action.

Hope that helps a bit. I'm a new Type 1 and this is my first day on the forum.

Hi
Welcome to the forum
Thanks for the reply. will have a look at the google download too.
To be honest, and after reading all the replies, I'm going to stick to what I have been doing, which is testing every time.
I'm waiting on my new licence to come (They claim to have not received my two part licence posted at the beginning of August)
so hopefully it wont be too much longer and I will have the same sheet (DIABINF) that I can copy and leave with my DSN.

 

[Rob2006Scott]

Sounds good to me, with what little experience I have. Better to be sure though.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

As a T2, sometimes my BG can drop down to 3.5 and at the moment I feel pretty weak with a false hypo if it drops below 5. I think I'll start testing before driving if I feel I may be at risk of it going below 5. I don't want to put myself or others at risk. I think it's best for everyone to be on the safe side at all times. I know the police would be unlikely to question me about it as a T2 but I'd rather be on the safe side.

I once fell asleep at the wheel because of undiagnosed sleep apnoea (after I had asked the doctor about it and been fobbed off). No injuries but it could have been worse.

I'm sure a lot of fatal crashes are caused by health issues that no one knew about.

 

[Ali H]

Group 1 entitlement ODL – car, motorcycle
Must satisfy the following criteria:

• must have adequate awareness of hypoglycaemia
• must not have had more than one episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person in the preceding twelve months
• there should be appropriate blood glucose monitoring. This has been defined by the Secretary of State’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes as no more than 2 hours before the start of the first journey and every 2 hours while driving
• must not be regarded as a likely source of danger to the public while driving
• the visual standards for acuity and visual field must be met

Impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia has been defined by the Secretary of State’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes as, ‘an inability to detect the onset of hypoglycaemia because of a total absence of warning symptoms’. If meets the medical standard a 1, 2 or 3 year licence will be issued.

When you test you must be 5 or above, if between 4 or 5 you must eat to adjust it and if you are less than 4 you must eat and NOT drive for 45 minutes, retest and be above 5 as I understand it.

 

[Ali H]

I would refuse to deal with a DNS who doesn't even know the basics as clearly defined by the DVLA and Government quite frankly. How dangerous to issue such advice to an insulin user! This test strip nonsense is all about cost savings and not what is legally and morally required. Sheeesh.

Ali

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I would refuse to deal with a DNS who doesn't even know the basics as clearly defined by the DVLA and Government quite frankly. How dangerous to issue such advice to an insulin user! This test strip nonsense is all about cost savings and not what is legally and morally required. Sheeesh.

Ali

Yes, totally. As a fellow road user I object to DSNs giving dangerous advice like this. They are doing the public a disservice. Otherwise preventable injuries and deaths not only obviously cause heartache but they cost a lot of money too.

 

[tim2000s]

I demand that all non-diabetics test before they get in a car as well. We risk being driven into by people with bg levels between 3.5 and 5.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I demand that all non-diabetics test before they get in a car as well. We risk being driven into by people with bg levels between 3.5 and 5.

Well, there's all kinds of causes of crashes out there, but for a DSN's expected knowledge base, this one is a no-brainer. The diabetic person is probably more likely to get injured or killed than anyone else, I'd guess. So they are harming their patient.

 

[Jaylee]

As a T2, sometimes my BG can drop down to 3.5 and at the moment I feel pretty weak with a false hypo if it drops below 5. I think I'll start testing before driving if I feel I may be at risk of it going below 5. I don't want to put myself or others at risk. I think it's best for everyone to be on the safe side at all times. I know the police would be unlikely to question me about it as a T2 but I'd rather be on the safe side.

I once fell asleep at the wheel because of undiagnosed sleep apnoea (after I had asked the doctor about it and been fobbed off). No injuries but it could have been worse.

I'm sure a lot of fatal crashes are caused by health issues that no one knew about.

That very public spirited of you..
With your geographic location in New Zealnd being non EU. What is the legislation for Insulin dependant drivers in your own country?

 

[ButtterflyLady]

That very public spirited of you..
With your geographic location in New Zealnd being non EU. What is the legislation for Insulin dependant drivers in your own country?

It's virtually the same as the EU, from what I can tell. A lot of systems and policies in NZ are borrowed from the UK, or Australia.

 

[Jaylee]

It's virtually the same as the EU, from what I can tell. A lot of systems and policies in NZ are borrowed from the UK, or Australia.

So, are you getting treatment for your aforementioned "sleep apnea" now?

 

[ButtterflyLady]

So, are you getting treatment for your aforementioned "sleep apnea" now?

Yes, as soon as I told my GP about the car crash she referred me to a specialist and was extremely apologetic. I think she realised her mistake and that she had dodged a bullet, so to speak. I have been using a CPAP machine every night ever since I was tested for it and haven't had any driving issues since.

 

[Jaylee]

Yes, as soon as I told my GP about the car crash she referred me to a specialist and was extremely apologetic. I think she realised her mistake and that she had dodged a bullet, so to speak. I have been using a CPAP machine every night ever since I was tested for it and haven't had any driving issues since.

How long have you been officially diagnosed with SA & have been undergoing the treatment??

 

[ButtterflyLady]

How long have you been officially diagnosed with SA & have been undergoing the treatment??

Almost 10 years.

 

[Jaylee]

Almost 10 years.

Have the NZ equivalent of The UK DVLA been notified..? What was the outcome regarding your licence...?

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Have the NZ equivalent of The UK DVLA been notified..? What was the outcome regarding your licence...?

Why do you ask? And no, the law doesn't require them to be notified. The law on sleep apnoea and driving is woefully inadequate in NZ. It's really easy for people with a range of medical conditions affecting driving to be allowed to drive. So the onus is on the individual to step back if there is an issue, which most T1s that I know of do, along with people with epilepsy and other conditions. (Just to clarify, all the T1s that I know of, drive, but they test beforehand in the same way people have talked about here. I know of some people with epilepsy who are allowed to drive but choose not to). Sleep apnoea is not an issue for driving if it is controlled by CPAP use. The danger is when people are not diagnosed, and they have no idea they are at risk.

 

[Jaylee]

Why do you ask? And no, the law doesn't require them to be notified. The law on sleep apnoea and driving is woefully inadequate in NZ. It's really easy for people with a range of medical conditions affecting driving to be allowed to drive. So the onus is on the individual to step back if there is an issue, which most T1s that I know of do, along with people with epilepsy and other conditions. (Just to clarify, all the T1s that I know of, drive, but they test beforehand in the same way people have talked about here. I know of some people with epilepsy who are allowed to drive but choose not to). Sleep apnoea is not an issue for driving if it is controlled by CPAP use. The danger is when people are not diagnosed, and they have no idea they are at risk.

Thanks for clarifying the driving laws in NZ.