Can i drive with diabeties

[Kayden-joe]

I recieved this letter I've still not been to get looked at as I'm scared will this affect me from driving in the future, I'm 25 years old what does this mean? Can anyone help me please would be appreciated..

 

[Jaylee]

I recieved this letter I've still not been to get looked at as I'm scared will this affect me from driving in the future, I'm 25 years old what does this mean? Can anyone help me please would be appreciated..View attachment 56008

Hi,

It’s easy to say “don’t panic till you get a consultation at the ophthalmologist.” (& find out what’s going on…)
But,
If it’s any consolation to you. I had Macula oedema & had treatment a few years back..
Though it involved a “vision field test” (free of charge at my local optitians.)
I’m still entitled to drive with the DVLA.

 

[EllieM]

Welcome to the forums @Kayden-joe .

Can I ask how long you have been diabetic and what type of diabetes you have?

The whole point of the diabetic screening eye tests is to get treatment before you lose your eyesight and the eye specialists have got very good at it over the decades they have been working with diabetics.

I think @Dark Horse knows quite a bit about diabetic eye issues.

 

[Kayden-joe]

Hi lovely thank you for your reply back, I've been diabetic since 2018 and I'm type 1 I have no pancreas ao i cant produce my own insulin im a poorly controlled diabetic tho I struggle a lot I would like to kno a bit more about this as I am worried I have to book for another eye screening and im scared ots going to have got worse coz I didn't go when I needed to

 

[EllieM]

Hi lovely thank you for your reply back, I've been diabetic since 2018 and I'm type 1 I have no pancreas ao i cant produce my own insulin im a poorly controlled diabetic tho I struggle a lot I would like to kno a bit more about this as I am worried I have to book for another eye screening and im scared ots going to have got worse coz I didn't go when I needed to

There are lots of T1s here on these boards. ( I've been T1 for 52 years and driving for 43 ). I would say that one of the most important things for you at this stage is to attend both eye appointments and diabetic clinic appointments. Have your diabetic clinic given you a cgm (libre or dexcom)? I personally find that a massive help in my diabetic control and you should be entitled to it if you are in the UK.

Are your diabetic team giving you any help to improve your bg levels?

 

[Kayden-joe]

What's a cgm and the other one you said? I've never heard of them before

 

[EllieM]

What's a cgm and the other one you said? I've never heard of them before

A cgm is a continuous glucose monitor. ( Libre is cheaper than dexcom).

It's a small sensor that you attach to your arm and allows you to read your current blood sugar level on your phone.
https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/free-trial.html

If you are in the UK and are diabetic you can have a free trial of the libre, but your clinic should give it to you on prescription, so if you're not yet getting it I suggest you push for a clinic appointment asap, and ask for one along with advice on how to manage your levels in the light of your eye issues. The target level of an hba1c of 48mmol/L is basically chosen because diabetic eye issues are much rarer if you keep below this level, but given that sudden changes in bg can also exacerbate eye issues in the short term, you could really do with some advice on how best to proceed.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi again @Kayden-joe ,

Firstly, grab whatever eye appointments for screening & wot not by the horns. Monitoring & early detection is key.
If your not having to have injections or laser treatment on anything eye related & you meet the required DVLA eyesight requirement with or without corrective vision (glasses.) they don’t need to know anything else. (Other than the hypo aware stuff.)

Yeah, I was 25 once. I get it. Lol, that was 29 years ago.. I still appreciate all these appointments are a disruptive pain in the neck..

You could try accessing NHS funding for a Libre2. You would need to speak with your endo? (You would still need to check calibration with your meter.) You are more likely to be granted funding for a Libre than a Dexy.

OK, this is where it gets interesting. You can get the “CGM experience” on your smartphone with one of two trusted third party apps (Diabox or xDrip) with customisable alarms & at a glance updates every 5 mins on the home or Lock Screen? (There is a whole community using this stuff. It could help you.)
I got a cradle by my A pillar in the van. I use Diabox on my device. There is a representation of my current BG on my dashboard along with the usual OEM stuff you get in a vehicle.

Best wishes.

 

[HSSS]

I recieved this letter I've still not been to get looked at as I'm scared will this affect me from driving in the future, I'm 25 years old what does this mean? Can anyone help me please would be appreciated..View attachment 56008

Type 2 here but mother of lads near your age. So at the risk,of sounding like your mother - Please, please make the appointment.

IF you need treatment it will be far more successful the earlier you have it and the chances of it affecting your future driving much less.
If you bury you head in the sand and ignore it, it’s likely to mean your fears become more likely not less and more problems for your eyesight, driving livence and the safety of you and everyone else on the roads than if you crack on and get it sorted now.

It also sounds like you need to revisit your endocrinologist/hospital and ask for and update on the tech you are entitled to try as a type1 (CMG’s pump etc) to see if any of it would help your control.

 

[PatsyB]

I drive with Diabetes but because I am on Insulin I have to have a three years license which I have to renew .