New to insulin.

[Doug53]

I've just been put on insulin recently. I was on various pills for 12 years. I hate needles. Is it possible to reduce high sugar levels within 3 months if I use insulin? I'm also concerned about my job as I need my car to do local deliveries. I don't want to lose my licence. What would dvla do? I've read 7 pages on the dvla/government.uk website but it wasn't very helpful. It was mostly about low blood sugar not high. Any advice would be helpful. Many thanks.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Insulin reduces your blood sugars quite rapidly. Depending on how long it takes for you to get to the correct dosage, it could go down fast. And the DVLA's concerned with low blood sugars due to insulin use, because you could quite well kill yourself and others when you're too low to be able to think and react properly. When you're high that's not so much a problem, so not something they worry about. If you go hypo while in traffic though, due to a miscalculation in dosage or a missed meal while having injected for one etc, that could well spell disaster. Before you drive, test. Remember, it's 5 to drive, if you're under that you need to eat something before leaving, or your insurance might not cover any mishaps. No clue about other DVLA things as I don't have a license myself, but I'm sure someone'll be along who knows more.

If you hate needles so much, might I ask, have you tried lowering the carbs in your diet? Then you might not need insulin at all, eventually. Maybe something to mull over, if it is an option for you.

Good luck, and hopefully you'll see someone more useful appear soon.
Jo

 

[Louise12216]

I've just been put on insulin recently. I was on various pills for 12 years. I hate needles. Is it possible to reduce high sugar levels within 3 months if I use insulin? I'm also concerned about my job as I need my car to do local deliveries. I don't want to lose my licence. What would dvla do? I've read 7 pages on the dvla/government.uk website but it wasn't very helpful. It was mostly about low blood sugar not high. Any advice would be helpful. Many thanks.

Hi,

You will need to let DVLA know, you can do this online. They will then contact your GP to confirm a few things then you will be sent documents to fill in for medical driving licence. You shouldn’t have any issues with getting one to drive your car, no I know ever has to be honest. The licence can last for 3 years (some depending on circumstance are shorter) it doesnt cost to renew it, they just make checks nothing has changed before issuing a new one. They write to you with what you need to do each time. You will also need to let your insurance company know. letting mine know this made no difference to the premium and it’s made no difference when adding my name to other policies.

As far as insulin goes at getting you BG down in 3 months, everyone is different and different insulin’s work differently in everyone, never a one size fits all box so I would say no one can tell you categorically yes, but be hopeful and work with the DSN or Doctors to work out what’s best for you. Yes, we all hate needles but for the most part they are pretty painless injections- although again you probably will get the odd ones that are painful and can leave you with a bruise. But better the quick injection than the consequences of not controlling the diabetes in the long term is how I see it.

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Doug53 .

Is there a reason for the "reduce in 3 months"?

Also, as regards driving licenses, if it's just a normal car license it should hopefully be relatively easy to get your license, but if you have a license to drive something more heavy duty (you can tell I'm clueless about the different UK driving licenses even though I had one for over twenty years of T1 diabetes) then it's more difficult and @searley is the expert there.