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Type 1 DVLA medical licence refusal

lindaburner

Active Member
Messages
32
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I’m looking for advice on how to effectively appeal against the DVLA’s decision to refuse my driving licence due to loss of hypo awareness.

I’m been a type 1 for 47yrs, NEVER had a hypo whilst driving because I check levels constantly, and went onto a pump in 2014 due to insulin sensitivity issues. I have lost hypo awareness in the last 3 yrs, BUT was granted CGM (constant glucose monitoring) in July 2019. This appears not to have been taken into account by the DVLA at all.

The DVLA have refused to consult my diabetic consultant & tell me the NHS have advised them “not to bother consultants” during the pandemic. I have argued that they are far more knowledgeable than a GP, but was sent for a medical 2 weeks ago with my GP, who was not happy about it. Outcome = Licence refused!

The fact that I have a blue badge & conditions including osteoarthritis in my right foot & ankle, carpal tunnel & tendonitis, makes no impact on the DVLA.

Has anyone overturned a decision of this sort? Can you give me advice?
 

Hi,

I'm sorry to read what you are going though with the DVLA. Could there be a way of recovering your personal hypo awairness?
You could be reinstated to your entitlement to drive if proven otherwise..
what I've read on the gov. DVLA site,

"The reliance on alarms on glucose monitoring devices are not accepted as a substitute for adequate symptomatic or physiological awareness of hypoglycaemia experienced by the driver."
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/diabetes-mellitus-assessing-fitness-to-drive

Please don't give up hope regarding your licence, you may need to prove you have regained hypo awairness..
 
Jaylee said:
I'm sorry to read what you are going though with the DVLA. Could there be a way of recovering your personal hypo awairness?
Click to expand...

@lindaburner
My awareness is poor (though not non existent) and the last time I had a hospital inducing hypo (over 2 years ago) my consultant told me to keep my levels between 6 and 12 to regain it, which worked, though my symptoms are much milder than they used to be. (I just feel a little edgy when my levels get low and I avoid hypos by heavy testing and/or a cgm to ensure that I just don't go that low).
 
I don’t seem to be able to recover hypo awareness and am getting no help from my diabetic team. I can’t even get an annual review annually, even by phone.

Last HBA1Cs are 53,56 & 56, so I’m certainly trying to keep in range. They sent me to a psychologist for trying too hard after diagnosing diabetic fatigue.
 
I'm sorry you're having a difficult time. Do you think it is worth asking your specialists if changing back to MDI could help?
 

Hi,

Have you retained any awairness at all..? (I'm not talking about the "steel magnolia" classic symptoms.)
Have you ever been "blue lighted?"
 
MDI? Manual dose insulin?
What’s blue lighted mean?
 
Blue lighted is when someone’s taken to hospital, and sometimes when paramedics, or police, are called to help with a situation. In this context I imagine the relevant blue light would be for a bad hypo.
 
lindaburner said:
MDI? Manual dose insulin?
What’s blue lighted mean?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty certain @Jaylee means have you ever had to have help for a hypo - in particular from the professionals?

Sorry, not being challenged with DVLA involvement, I can't add any personal wisdom.

Good luck with it all. Seems a real nightmare. Have the DVLA told you when they will review/reconsider your predicament?
 
lindaburner said:
What’s blue lighted mean?
Click to expand...
Hi,

Yep, as @Fairygodmother says, need "3rd party assistance." Passed out, or incapacitated to the point paramedics are called.

A case of, "please pass me the sweets dear, I believe I'm going low." Doesn't count.

There have been issues where folk have been a little too honest about being handed a bottle of Lucozade on request with a DIAB1 form submission, & had a little trouble sorting the misunderstand out with DVLA in the past regarding the technicality of "third party assistance."

lindaburner said:
MDI? Manual dose insulin?
Click to expand...

Multiple daily injections.
 
I’ve had no 3rd party assistance apart from once 2 yrs ago, nor needed an ambulance.
As for going back to manual insulin, because my insulin sensitivity factor is 3, & my basal rates are between 0.525 to 0.7 per hour across the day, I can’t see that as manageable.
 

Hi again,

In the event of a hypo. Do you know you are going low. But having different symptoms..?

I remember the animal insulins 40'odd years ago. So long as you are not so cognitively impaired to acknowledge a low & treat yourself.
Even if it is just to say to a friend, "I'm low grab me that phat coke?"
 
lindaburner said:
Symptoms are not always there
Click to expand...

Ah, OK.. I have to admit in 44 years of diabetes to date I have never lost the syptoms through I'm not always the sweaty shaky mess the DVLA visage on the DIAB1 forms.

It maybe possible (it has been known.) to regain hypo awareness by running BGs a little higher than you usually do for a while to "tune" how you feel when low?
If you can regain awairness, it may be possible after a review, to reclaim your licence entitlement.
(It may not be the full 3 year entitlement to start?)

Don't give up hope.. Best wishes.
 
Around 6 years ago my control was so tight I had become hypo unaware! Luckily I didn't have a driving licence at the time so it didn't cause me any problems. I did however purposely run a little high for a few weeks and it definitely brought back my awareness for the hypos and I am still feeling them now
 
Great news! Having ignored what my diabetic nurses suggested I have got hypo awareness back this week, by keeping between 6 & 11mmol, eating low carb, ditching the CGM sensor, and using my freestyle libre along with the freestyle app on my phone. It just proves how you can retrain your brain with better info like the trending arrows!
No luck getting onto an online DAFNE course despite attempts by my GP. All the hospital suggested was a Food Freedom course. Has anyone done this? I've never heard of it.
Now I've got to get the consultant to write back to the DVLA and appeal. Fingers crossed
 
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