DVLA LICENCE HELP

Can't see why you can't keep your car licence but they will say either way, they do request 3 months bg meter readings when applying to drive goods/public service vehicles, if in doubt ring the DVLA helpline, they do often get criticised on the net but I've always found them to be helpful.

Good luck.

with car license it will be either a 1 or 3 year restricted -- they will be in the process of doing this and will write to your doctor for your details.
they may require you to go to an opticians for sight test but they will send info regarding this as well if they do.

In my case five years ago no readings were required and neither for the subsequent renewal.. But they may decide to contact your GP or consultant. And as @himtoo said you may need to have your eyes looked at.

Scotty84 said:

Thanks that's put my mind at ease. With the car licence will I need 3 months of readings though ? P

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The DVLA will likely write to your Dr or Consultant if they want further information about your health, if they do request meter readings then they will say in their letters, as said give them a ring to follow things up.

I've just been through the process and got a 3 year car licence. DVLA didn't ask for any readings. Sue xxx

I think the 3 months of readings are for if you have a car accident whether your fault or not.

Hi. The DVLA only wanted a signed form from my GP when I went onto insulin and I now have a 3-year licence for car driving, so you should at least be OK for the car.

Hi Scotty84,
Just going through the DVLA treadmill to get my Class 1 licence renewed with initial declaration of insulin use. So far it's taken 10 months to get through the 3 compulsory medicals so I wouldn't worry about 3 months readings as you will have ample opportunity to accumulate in the meter memory. A bigger issue might be getting sufficient sticks to test as you will have to test twice a day and at times relevant to driving with no period longer than 2 hours between if continually driving. (Tacho & WTD don't exactly gel with this).

Having read as many blogs/articles as possible regarding group 2medicals I can understand to some extent that DVLA still don't accept what you as the licence holder say on your DIAB1V but I'm completely gobsmacked that my GP's responses are checked by my hospital consultant ( nominated by DVLA) who in turn has his responses checked by a DVLA appointed specialist......10 months......severe loss of earnings and it interferes with mortgage and pension planning.......don't get me started.

Additionally at 61 years old (held hgv entitlements for 40 years) never had a chest pain, angina, heart attack, stents etc I now have to go for a myocardial perfusion test.....so theirs another 3 months. I'm assuming DVLA are scrapping the barrel for a reason not to give me my entitlement back.

Get yourself a second or even third meter as back up as that memory will be chocka.

I have Accu-Chek software to download my meters and always present a printout with the meters as supporting evidence. I spread my use and download in such a way that I can delete data up to the download but I always have 90 days of current data available on a meter......cover your ar*e, if you have an RTA the police will want that data.

www.gov.uk/government/groups/secretary of state for transports honorary medical advisory panel on driving and diabetes mellitus

Check out Sect 7.3 DVLA are continuing to receive 25-30 police notifications per month of road traffic incidents for drivers with insulin treated diabetes.

Good Luck Scotty and don't despair just plan.

Hi PigSty Pete.... I ended up taking the DVLA to court to get my license back... (They backed down in the final hour) they are frankly the most ineffective, terrified to make a decision bunch of idiots I've ever had the misfortune to come across. They truly epitomise the stereotype of Civil Servants.. My GP, specialist and two private doctors couldn't believe their decisions.. Challenge them always!

Hi pmbdarwen,
Thanks for that. it will definitely be the next step.

Hi Again pmbdarwen
Sorry pressed the wrong button.
Going to go through the myocardial thing as it will be good feedback on my heart (for my own interest) and maybe a hurdle out of the way in 12 months time at renewal.
Not expecting any problems with the scan but if DVLA decline my renewal then court looks the way to go, another few months won't make much difference to the financial position I find myself in.
How long from declaring insulin to them backing down?
Do you catch any of the posts by Denbo, that guy is having a lot of bad luck, my wife has convinced herself that once I've got my 1 yr licence back the next renewal will be same scenario but Sect 88 RTA 1988 seems to work for some but not all HGV drivers.

Have you defintely been diagnosed as a T1 with proper tests? Or are you a T2 that has progressed to insulin?

I only ask because there is a little but of difference to DVLA thinking (shouldn't be though)..

They can ask for blood tests proof if you are on insulin and driving whether car or hgv's etc...

The significant part is that you are taking insulin which may cause hypo's... And as a newly diagnosed T1 they could limit you longer than 3 months worth of tests before allowing you to drive anything more than a car. It may be treated a little different (although they shouldn't) if you are a T2 going on to insulin..

If you are a T2 going on to insulin there is a chance with diet change of reducing carbs that you could possibly revert to tablets. Not a chance in hell if a T1.

I am type 1 Diabetic, my car licence is a 3 yr licence. They contact my Consultants to ensure I haven't had any severe hypos. (Its low blood sugars that concern them as they affect your sight and judgment almost immediately, when you have high blood sugars you are more able to think and get yourself to safety to test and inject).

Have no experience with HGV licences, so yeah, calling the DVLA will answer your questions

donnellysdogs said:

Have you defintely been diagnosed as a T1 with proper tests? Or are you a T2 that has progressed to insulin?

I only ask because there is a little but of difference to DVLA thinking (shouldn't be though)..

They can ask for blood tests proof if you are on insulin and driving whether car or hgv's etc...

The significant part is that you are taking insulin which may cause hypo's... And as a newly diagnosed T1 they could limit you longer than 3 months worth of tests before allowing you to drive anything more than a car. It may be treated a little different (although they shouldn't) if you are a T2 going on to insulin..

If you are a T2 going on to insulin there is a chance with diet change of reducing carbs that you could possibly revert to tablets. Not a chance in hell if a T1.

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Hi Donnellysdogs,
I was diagnosed over 30 years ago which has been reasonably controlled, with the UK coming into line with EU laws regarding HGV driving in 2011 I finally accepted the advice of my GP & Consultant in 2014 as my control was diminishing so yes I'm T2 on insulin.
Declared my initial use in Sept of last year and finally had the third medical in June 2015 only for DVLA on the 8 July to send me for a myocardial perfusion scan. I have a telephone appointment 30 July for pre scan assessment, probably 3/4 weeks before the scan, another week to do the report and post and finally up to 5/8 weeks for DVLA's decision. The thing is, apart from the 9 months for the insulin element is the additional 3 months for the heart element of the assessment when I've never had chest pains, angina,stents or any other cardiac problem just a little neuropathy in my feet....nowhere near sufficient to impede pedal control.

I can understand to some extent the delays with initial declaration from a vocational point of view but what worries me is the possibility that in 12 months on renewal of the vocational element similar delays are repeated( as experienced by some other HGV Drivers). All the forms D2,D4,DIAB 1V,DIAB 2V & DIABEXAMV are in the main box ticking exercises with a 99% of the detail repeated, the only physical examination in all of the above is a single blood pressure reading, a visual field test and your hundreds of meter readings.
Sorry I'm getting on my soapbox.
Many thanks for your perspective as a T1, I'll be honest I hadn't considered that is definitely not reversible.

nicolarse01 said:

I am type 1 Diabetic, my car licence is a 3 yr licence. They contact my Consultants to ensure I haven't had any severe hypos. (Its low blood sugars that concern them as they affect your sight and judgment almost immediately, when you have high blood sugars you are more able to think and get yourself to safety to test and inject).

Have no experience with HGV licences, so yeah, calling the DVLA will answer your questions

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Hi Nicolarse01,

I find it a bit hit and miss with the HGV/Buses medical section, mainly very helpful and informative but occasionally you just wish you'd not bothered.

PigstyPete said:

Hi Donnellysdogs,
I was diagnosed over 30 years ago which has been reasonably controlled, with the UK coming into line with EU laws regarding HGV driving in 2011 I finally accepted the advice of my GP & Consultant in 2014 as my control was diminishing so yes I'm T2 on insulin.
Declared my initial use in Sept of last year and finally had the third medical in June 2015 only for DVLA on the 8 July to send me for a myocardial perfusion scan. I have a telephone appointment 30 July for pre scan assessment, probably 3/4 weeks before the scan, another week to do the report and post and finally up to 5/8 weeks for DVLA's decision. The thing is, apart from the 9 months for the insulin element is the additional 3 months for the heart element of the assessment when I've never had chest pains, angina,stents or any other cardiac problem just a little neuropathy in my feet....nowhere near sufficient to impede pedal control.

I can understand to some extent the delays with initial declaration from a vocational point of view but what worries me is the possibility that in 12 months on renewal of the vocational element similar delays are repeated( as experienced by some other HGV Drivers). All the forms D2,D4,DIAB 1V,DIAB 2V & DIABEXAMV are in the main box ticking exercises with a 99% of the detail repeated, the only physical examination in all of the above is a single blood pressure reading, a visual field test and your hundreds of meter readings.
Sorry I'm getting on my soapbox.
Many thanks for your perspective as a T1, I'll be honest I hadn't considered that is definitely not reversible.

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I must admit I thought it was 3 months of good readings to get HGV Licence back.. Never heard of a myocardial scan.. Is this something that they are more asare of since the scottish HGV driver killing the pedestrians last year??