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Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnosed?

Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnosed?

  • Yes

    Votes: 13 26.5%

  • No

    Votes: 36 73.5%
  • Total voters
    49

Giverny

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Coventry, UK
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I do not have diabetes
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This month we'd like you to share your stories about any encounters you've had with the DVLA since being diagnosed with diabetes.

Did you find everything was simple?
If you had problems, how did you go about resolving them?
Have you had your license revoked at any point?
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose



I don't usually encourage anyone to lie but I have to say with the DVLA honesty is NOT the best policy, you really do have to tell them what they want to hear unless you want a licence revoke.
I was having some bad hypos (levels of 2- 2.5) - NOT at the wheel but in the safety of my own home, and even though I could always treat them myself I was told by the DVLA that 'all hypos have to be investigated'. Luckily I had only phoned the DVLA for info and not given any personal details at this point so after saying ta-ta and phoning Diabetes UK who assured me that I only had to declare non self treated hypos I took no further action, but hate to think what would have happened if the DVLA had already got my driver number by then.
Other than that, had to do a field test for retinopathy but it was relatively straightforward, I passed the test so got a 3 year licence.
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

EVERYTIME SINCE I FIRST EVER APPLIED FOR A PROVISIONAL DRIVING LISCENCE AND DISCLOSED THAT I WAS AN INSULIN DEPENDANT DIABETIC I HAVE BEEN BULLIED LIED TO THE LIST GOES ON AT ONE STAGE MY LISCENCE WAS REVOKED WHEN I HAD A HYPO IN A PARK AND SOMEONE CALLED AN AMBULANCE AS THEY HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED A DIABETIC "HYPO" I WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE YOU WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE A HYPO AS NOBODY IS PERFECT !!!! LONGS YOU DO NOT REAQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF AN AMBULNACE OR HOSPITALISATION BUT IAM HIGHLY DISGUSTED AS INSULIN DIABETICS I GET RAPED AND PILLAGED EVERY 2YEARS WITH THESE PEOPLE AS YOU DO NOT ACTUALLY GET THREE YEARS FROM START TO FINISH BECAUSE OFF THESE STUPID FORMS THEY ASK YOU TO FILL OUT SAME QUESTIONS TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN !!!!!! AND YET WHEN YOU SEE THE IDIOTS THEY ALLOW OUT ON THE ROADS THE ONES THAT DO 40MPH IN 30MPH LIMITS AND TAILGAIT YOU USE THERE PHONE ETC ETC I TELL YOU SOMETHING THE DVLA AND INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE A CHEEK PENALISING DIABETICS THE WAY THEY DO BUT DVLA TAKE YOURE PAYMENT QUICK ENOUGH BUT NEVER EVER FOLLOW THROUGH ON DELIVERING THE LISCENCE AND WHEN YOURE IN A JOB WHERE YOU NEED IT FOR YOURE COMPANY CAR YOURE SCREWED BUT DO DVLA CARE EH COMPUTER SAYS NO!!! :x :x :x :x :x :x :shock: :shock: :shock:
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

Still trying to get my LGV license back. Been going on since Jan 2013. I attended a medical at DVLA request July 1st which was fine. Since then, I have been informed that they require another medical from another independant specialist. I now have to go to Welwyn Garden City end of Sep ! This is a 90min drive each way ! Right pain to be honest !


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

My mum is a Type 1 Diabetic, diagnosed at 17 years of age (her 17th birthday in fact) and EVERY time she applied for a provisional license during the 80's, they always denied her this citing her diabetes as being a risk. I always wondered and still do, why they refused my mums license (even when she was well controlled, with no hypo's) but yet granted a license to a young lady at our local diabetic group, who would hypo at the drop of a hat walking down the street.

Conversely, the DVLA were not too concerned about my grans T2 diabetes, and were more concerned when she was diagnosed with Angina that it would make her unsafe to drive.
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

This is a concern for me in going on insulin or not. People's experiences seem to be so different when it comes to DV L A. What if the licence is revoked? How am I going to get to work? Can't afford or do not want to not be able to work!

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

I was diagnosed with type 1 just over three years ago, before my 30th birthday. I notified the DVLA by phone who were really helpful and sympathetic. They sent me through the paperwork and that was it. So long as there aren't any issues with hypoing when driving, it's quite a simple process. I have a license that needs renewing every three years and the DVLA automatically send me the paperwork. So far so good. I test before driving and have dextrose in the car in case I feel myself going low.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

I can't really fault them, yes the forms are a pain and don't particularly like having to do the field vision test but it's all worth it to get a 3 year licence :thumbup:
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

Please don't get me started on the DVLA, have been diabetic for five years and notified them straight away as quite a shock to the system.
No problem - diet and metformin.
March last year went on insulin AND metformin and notified DVLA.
MAJOR PROBLEM.
Asked to submit my license, duly did and had ALL of my entitlements taken off me(grandad license).
I move all manner of vehicles up to 7.5 tonne all over the country and have had NO episodes in 5 years.
DVLA are aware of no episodes as in contact with my doctor but WON'T reverse decision.
I told them their ruling was impeding my availability to do my job but their answer was this:
If you wish to Pursue this further you can go to court and take on the Secretary of State. We strongly advise against this as it will be very costly and your chances of being successful are very slim.
You can reapply for your license in three years time.
Clarkson was right, this is not a Democracy but a Dictatorship.
PD1
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

I was initially confused aggrieved about the driving licence thing but my mother (rough love!) gave me perspective:

You are using a drug that can make you pass out at the wheel.
Given this, like with drink/driving they could just say no - you are a danger to others.
Rather than just saying no, they want to see you are in control of your drug/life and can therefore continue to drive.
Form filling and being in control is a small price to pay too keep what you want and need for a normal life.

The DVLA were helpful when I rang them to clarify about hypos being only assisted ones.

For me, the approach makes good sense; we should be in sufficient control of our diabetes to know/prepare for getting in a car. Its annoying, inconvenient, costly (I test almost 5 times a day for driving) but I would be outraged if it was ok for someone to be under the influence of a drug (like alcohol) and then drive using only a rough guess that the drug wasn't impairing their ability to drive.

On the HGV, LGV stuff, I don't know the rules and I feel for anyone whose livelihood depends on being able to drive. A good history of control/responsibility should count for something.
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose



I travel bus/tram/traib to Brum from Wolves. More reading time - less stress = happy chappy. My boss is good. I have this week as leave and as I hurt myself last week offered me the week off as sick. We had a 4 day break in Wales and I'm not in two minds, but was a generous offer. I wouldn't like to drive,personally, putting others at risk. That, however, is MY view and I speak for no one else.

Mart x
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

My apologies, my phone is playing up.
Basically, due to an Admin error, I was told that I was blind and had my licence removed. After 8 months of arguing and attending appointments left right and Centre (about 7 in total), I got my licence back. The same day I lost my job because of all the time I was taking off.
So yeah. Me and the DVLA are no longer friends to say the least.
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

Well that was a surprise, just got off the phone to the DVLA.
They rang to ask about my last visit to doc about my diabetes, as i put aug 2012.
My response was that was true at the time of filling out the form at the end of July i've since seen them again.
DVLA response: OK thats fine your license renewal should go through fine.
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

HELP!

I am now 18 weeks pregnant and have had 2 serious hypos in past few week, I haven't had any bad ones for a long while now and the doctor agrees that the only reason these ones got so bad is because I've been low a bit in first trimester of my pregnancy (which is completely normal) but this has made my symptoms to the hypos drop a bit and because I was asleep when both hypos occurred I didn't wake until too late and had to have assistance. The doctor told me I had to inform the DVLA which I did and now I have just Recieved a form asking me either to surrender license or appeal. Which should I do?? Doctor told me if we sorted out my lows he would be happy to tell them in a month that he would be happy for me to drive again, so shall I appeal because it will probably take them that long to get back to me. And I'm worried if I surrender my license do I have to wait the 12 months they usually say before applying for a new one? And would I have to pay for my new license?

My diabeties is usually well controlled before pregancy as you can tell by my hba1c which was 59 last time. And I've not had anymore hypos ( not even a little one) since the last serious one nearly 2 weeks ago so looks like the change the doc made to my insulin has worked. They say that for remainder of pregnancy I will more than likely have higher bloods than lower, which is what happened in my previous pregnancy. Sorry to ramble on but if anyone has had a similar problem or knows any useful information would be greatly appreciated as its really hard not being able to drive with a little one to take around and getting to work and shops etc. thanks!

Plus I do have to go to see diabetic specialist atleast every 2 weeks if not every week while im pregnant so they can see I'm well checked up on by my doc!
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

This may sound naive but I was unaware that I needed to even notify the DVLA of my diabetes. I am Type 2, on metformin, glucose reading down to less than it was pre-diabetes and no problems at all (thus far!), but apparently I should have told them.

That was three years ago and I'm now concerned that if I notify them retrospectively I'm going to be in trouble for not having done so sooner roblem:

Any advice from anyone who has been there would be greatly appreciated.
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose


That's a relief, thanks for that.
 
Re: Have you had problems with the DVLA since being diagnose

hi.ive just been offered a bus driving job.was over the moon.3 weeks a go i was put on insulin.now i find out that it will take months to get my licence cat.D AS IM ON INSULIN.!!!!!so upset.not had a job since march
 
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