Definition of Hypo attack?

[TheWeasel]

Hi Folks,

I'm being asked some very specific questions relating to an application for a driving permit (not a UK DVLA licence) and I can't find a definition for hypoglycemic attack.

Sure I have the occasional drift down into hypoglycemia which I notice and correct, but an attack suggests sudden harmful effect, which I've not had so plan to answer NO to.........unless anyone has a definition which means a gradual drop in BG = an attack.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[sugarless sue]

Welcome to the forum, Weasel.The official definition of hypoglycaemia is a blood sugar reading under 3.9. If you have good hypo awareness then you notice and correct this.

Unfortunately some do not and they can drift way below this level before they realise they are in a hypo state, not a good idea when driving.

 

[cugila]

This is the UK DVLA advice regarding Hypoglycaemia. Basically an 'attack', as you call it, would be considered a disabling hypo which will obviously affect your driving. Hope this helps ?

HYPOGLYCAEMIA
The risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is the main hazard to safe driving and can occur with diabetes treated with insulin or tablets or both. This may endanger your own life as well as that of other road users. Many of the accidents caused by hypoglycaemia are because drivers continue to drive even though they are experiencing warning signs of hypoglycaemia. If you experience warning signs of hypoglycaemia while driving you must always stop as soon as safely possible – do not ignore the warning signs.

You must inform DVLA if:
you suffer more than one episode of disabling hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) within 12 months, or
if you or your carer feels you are at high risk of developing disabling hypoglycaemia.
you develop impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia. (difficulty in recognising the warning symptoms of low blood sugar)
you suffer disabling hypoglycaemia while driving.
an existing medical condition gets worse or you develop any other condition that may affect you driving safely.
In the interests of road safety you must be sure that you can safely control a motor vehicle at all times.

 

[TheWeasel]

Thanks for the advice SS and cugila,

This is a tricky problem at present, as I probably shouldn't divilge the name of my employer nor the authority whose regs they have to comply with. Suffice to say they seem to thrive on ambiguity, which they can then use to prevent issue of a permit or refuse to lift the restrictions.

The DVLA have been good as gold since I was diagnosed back in 1978, and have deveolped very clear questions for the medical form I have to complete every 3 years. Their Q about have I had a disabling hypo whilst driving in the last 12 months is clear & simple with the condition ( hypo) and the degree ( disabling, requiring assistance) specified very clearly.

In contrast, the question I'm being asked is ''have I had a hypoglyccemic 'attack' in the last 6 months'' ?
This is not so clear as they've not given any BG limits or rate of decline, or any indication of what degree of symptoms constitutes an attack.
Basically because of the driving conditions where I work, DVLA group 2 medical requirements are being used as the standard required....with some adjustments as noted above.

I know what hypogycemia is, and the official 3.9 limit, noting the matching DVLA statement ' do not drive with a BG below 4.0', but a hypo attack suggests a high rate of decline for falling BG, or some other definition, which I can't find.

I'm sorry to appear pedantic, but my livelyhood is at stake on the strength of one very ambiguisly worded question, so if anyone has a specific definition, I'll know how I should answer the big Q, thanks.

 

[TheWeasel]

This is the UK DVLA advice regarding Hypoglycaemia. Basically an 'attack', as you call it, would be considered a disabling hypo which will obviously affect your driving. Hope this helps ?.

Are we saying hypoglycemia (3.9 and below) is NOT considered an attack until it becomes disabling?
If so, that would indeed help..... Do you have an official reference for this?

The DVLA form DIABINF Feb 2009 issue gives sound advice and figures but does not use the word attack at all.

 

[cugila]

I would ask the people who have posed the question just what they mean.

There is no such definition as far as I am aware of something termed a 'Hypoglycaemic Attack.' Surely if they are asking you a question then they should have their definition of what they are talking about.

Once that is clarified then you will be able to answer the question better.

My question is, Have you had an episode of disabling hypoglycaemia. In other words something that seriously impaired your functioning and would have caused you to do something about it, or needed outside help ?

 

[TheWeasel]

I would ask the people who have posed the question just what they mean.

There is no such definition as far as I am aware of something termed a 'Hypoglycaemic Attack.' Surely if they are asking you a question then they should have their definition of what they are talking about.

Once that is clarified then you will be able to answer the question better.

My question is, Have you had an episode of disabling hypoglycaemia. In other words something that seriously impaired your functioning and would have caused you to do something about it, or needed outside help ?

I have asked what they mean and they've gone away to consider it. I have no idea of what they'll dream up as a response, but I am very worried about what it might be, which i why I'm trying to find an official definition for myself. Gotta be ready for them!
By doing this I am hoping to to answer the question better, as you say.


As for your question.....Oh yes, I certainly have had episodes of disabling hypoglycemia, (during the night, causing insulin coma), I'm not going to try and deny that. However, the DVLA question quite reasonably restricts this question to 'whilst driving' and 'in the last 12 months' to which I can confidently answer NO.

The rather distorted version of this question I'm now being asked, whilst reduced to the last 6 months, is concerned with ANY hypo attack. These two parameters in combination are a far stiffer restriction than the DVLA version they're supposed to be a copy of.

I'm a newbie on here but if the forum has a PM facility, I'll tell you the full gory details, but I don't think they should be made public until I get more details from the occupational health consultant. HP

 

[sugarless sue]

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