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Driving on insulin

searley

searley

Well-Known Member
Retired Moderator
Messages
2,303
Location
Southampton
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
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Diabetes, not having Jaffa Cake
I have read in a few places on the forum here that it is now a legal requirement to test blood sugars before driving

can you confirm that it is actually a requirement, and not just a suggestion.. do you have a link to the details of this requirement.

I work in a service industry that requires me to drive to a customers address. if i have 10 jobs in a day, this could mean 20 driving sessions, so i really need to test 20 times??

thanks in advance for any ideas you have on this
 
Yes it's clarified in the most recent edition of the guidance for filling in the DIAB 1 medical form.
●
If you have insulin treatment, you must sign and
date the declaration. This will confirm that you
understand that you must test your blood glucose/
sugar when you drive.
●
This is a legal requirement and the DVLA medical
panel have defined that you need to do this before
the first journey and every 2 hours while driving.
●
If you make numerous short trips you do not have
to test before each journey as long as you test
every 2 hours while driving. Please note if you do
not sign the declaration we will not progress
your case and will return the form for you to fill
in. If you do not sign the declaration, we will not
give you a licence to drive
Click to expand...
.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg ... 202154.pdf
 
Thank you..

OK so the way i read that is: if i have tested within the last 2 hours i can drive, and when i reaches the 2 hours since a test, i should perform another test if driving, OR test again before my next journey.

SO if i perform a test at 08:00 for breakfast.. i can drive to work without another test at 08:30???.. i can drive to a customers at 09:30 without testing.. BUT when i leave the customers at 10:15 i will need to perform a test??

or should i still do a test at 08:30 immediately before driving, then 2 hourly after that?

either way i dont thing the doctor will like me, as this will at the least double my strip usage!
 
Hi Searley,

If you test at 8 you will not need to retest until 10. If you feel hypo you need to pull over and switch off the car engine. If your sugars are below 4 you must not drive. If they are below 5 you should have some sugar or a snack before driving. You must also carry stuff with you in the car in case your sugars drop.

If you were involved in an accident the police can ask to see your meter to prove that you have tested your sugar levels before getting behind the wheel.

Probably going to mean a lot of testing for you!
 
searley said:
SO if i perform a test at 08:00 for breakfast.. i can drive to work without another test at 08:30???..
Click to expand...



Tricky one as it does state 'that you test your bg before the first journey'.....

This is a legal requirement and the DVLA medical
panel have defined that you need to do this before
the first journey and every 2 hours while driving


It's normally one to one and half hours after I get up that I get in the car so always test anyways, that way if I were to be involved in a collision my meter will say what my bg is before the journey commenced.
 
Hmm.. Ok

I dont have an issue with the testing, but the doctor wont be so pleased!
 
Hi I wish you the best of luck with your GP. I have a similar requirement set by the CAA for flying. I'm a type 2 with meds. I've pointed out that it's a goverment department that insists I test. Absolutely no luck, he still will not provide me with any strips.
I get the feeling that even those who get strips are coming under pressure to reduce testing. Makes you wonder if the nhs really does want us to look after ouselves. Sorry for the rant. I really do hope you have better luck than me. Cheers
 
I get 150 each time i request them... Wonder what they will say when i order every 3 weeks instead of 4?

In all honesty im self employed, and am not much better off that way than claiming benifits, i wonder what the doc will say if i suggest i gave up working, so i didnt have to drive?

Or what social would say if i said i cant work because the NHS dont give enough strips to drive for my job?

Still, lets wait see what he says
 
searley said:
I get 150 each time i request them... Wonder what they will say when i order every 3 weeks instead of 4
Click to expand...


Just put the request in and see what happens, if they argue then quote the DVLA and DAFNE guidelines on testing, if you are under a hospital consultant then a letter from them to your gp should be enough to change their mind.

I get 200 strips every 4 weeks from my surgery so give it a go!
 
searley said:
I get 150 each time i request them... Wonder what they will say when i order every 3 weeks instead of 4?

In all honesty im self employed, and am not much better off that way than claiming benifits, i wonder what the doc will say if i suggest i gave up working, so i didnt have to drive?
Click to expand...

buy your own purely for the tests required for driving and claim them as expenses?
 
noblehead said:
searley said:
I get 150 each time i request them... Wonder what they will say when i order every 3 weeks instead of 4
Click to expand...


Just put the request in and see what happens, if they argue then quote the DVLA and DAFNE guidelines on testing, if you are under a hospital consultant then a letter from them to your gp should be enough to change their mind.

I get 200 strips every 4 weeks from my surgery so give it a go!
Click to expand...


Actually.... 200 strips every 4 weeks will only cover you to test about 5 times during the day and do 1 test during the night so that would equal 180... that only leaves 20 strips to cover the times that you drive over the month.. and so I would imagine that another tub of 50 would need to be bought privately unfortunately. Basal/bolus insulin and bg testing is definately costly business............. :roll:
 
iHs said:
noblehead said:
searley said:
I get 150 each time i request them... Wonder what they will say when i order every 3 weeks instead of 4
Click to expand...


Just put the request in and see what happens, if they argue then quote the DVLA and DAFNE guidelines on testing, if you are under a hospital consultant then a letter from them to your gp should be enough to change their mind.

I get 200 strips every 4 weeks from my surgery so give it a go!
Click to expand...


Actually.... 200 strips every 4 weeks will only cover you to test about 5 times during the day and do 1 test during the night so that would equal 180... that only leaves 20 strips to cover the times that you drive over the month.. and so I would imagine that another tub of 50 would need to be bought privately unfortunately. Basal/bolus insulin and bg testing is definately costly business............. :roll:
Click to expand...

I test 4 times a day, and dont normally test at night.. So that 120 a month, 80 may cover driving and the odd time when not feeling right

I let things go a bit recently, which ld to a higher hba1c, but i am not trying to get back ontop of that
 
Hi

My comment was made regarding analogue bolus/basal insulins...... the older type insulins probably have a slightly different effect on the way they lower bg levels. Regarding your hba1c... as long as it's not above 7.2% for a great length of time, then I dont think that you will have too much to worry about but of course pay attention if you start to find that background retinopathy is starting to affect your eyesight.... That is usually a sign to get a better control of bg levels which of course can be done successfully through frequent bg testing and adjusting your insulin and diet.
 
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