• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Type 2 Saw nurse today

Cana said:
It doesn’t cause hypo but the safe level to drive is 5.

I’m not getting hypos but if I don’t eat enough carbs (I don’t often like them) then it drops to 5. Done it twice this week
Click to expand...

I think you are getting confused

The level of 5 only refers to Diabetics taking Insulin or an insulin mimicking drug.

Anybody else, including people with Type 2 who are treating it with other drugs or with no drugs at all do not need to check their blood before driving, and there is no level of BG required.

5 is a normal BG level for people, and should be the level you are aiming to be at for most of the time.
 

I’m not testing before I drive. That hasn’t been mentioned.

Doctor has told me to keep levels above 5 when I’m driving.

Hence not to test before I drive in case it is there.

Just the fact that diabetes is present can cause a problem with the dvsa (they do not have same levels for medical hypo) as medical does.

Dvsa tends to have a mind of its own so best not to complicate things.
 
Cana said:
I’m not testing before I drive. That hasn’t been mentioned.

Doctor has told me to keep levels above 5 when I’m driving.

Hence not to test before I drive in case it is there.
Click to expand...
If you don't test how do you know you're above 5?

I know in the UK if you are on insulin or other glucose reducing drugs then you are required to test before driving, but where are you (if you've already answered this I must've missed the answer)?
 
Cana - Forgive me for the following, but my interpretation of what you've just written on post #22 is you don't test before you drive, in case your at 5 or lower?

If that's the case, it's rather bonkers, in my view. That could be considered slightly supervised neglect.

Surely, if you want to ensure you are 5 or over, you should test prior to undertaking that activity, then periodically thereafter?

I appreciate that when your bloods get lower you feel it, but just to rely on that for something you believe is critically important doesn't make sense to me.

The medication you are on does, require the "5 to drive", but obviously it isn't sensible to drive when you feel rubbish, so that's something you have to work out a way of dealing with.

I have been fortunate not to have ever taken any diabetes meds, but if I had to be 5 to drive, I'd only be able to drive for about an hour after eating a decent meal. I'm often in the low 4's after a relatively carb-tastic meal these days. My interpretation is my body got healthier and works better nowadays.
 
Have you actually contacted the DVSA to ask them what their criteria is rather than relying on your doctor? Might be an idea.
 
Cana said:
Dvsa tends to have a mind of its own so best not to complicate things.
Click to expand...

Actually they don't. They work to a very exact set of guidelines.

I work for the trade body of the Bus & Coach Industry and have frequent dealings with DVLA and after spending time in Swansea with the medical team recently I have a very good idea of how they operate.

I would recommend that anyone with a diagnosis of Diabetes of any type and however it is treated inform DVLA. (if you have a driving licence that is )
 
looking at that picture for men is that 300carbs + 120g sugar - or is that 300 carbs of which 120g sugar? either way no wonder we're a nation of fatties!
 
The 5 to drive comment isn't strictly true - it's an easy to remember and provides a bit of a buffer, if you're 4.0 -4.9 you can drive but must take some form of carbs (to ensure you don't drop any lower).
 
Have you confirmed if your meds require a 5 to drive (actually above 4 and action taken to prevent it dropping further) then surely you are also required to inform dvla. Don't the two things go together? I thought I read on another post that you were avoiding using other meds to avoid the need to notify.

So I’m now confused ! do your current meds require notification? If so have you notified? If they don’t need notifying then the testing before driving isn’t required.

I’m hoping you aren’t equally confused.
 
We are the guardians of our own health. Realistically just because I am a qualified health professional (not now, I am retired) does not mean I know what I am talking about. The pedestal factor comes into play too and I knew a fair few people that thought they were God’s gift to healthcare. In my own practice if I was asked a question out of my knowledge zone then I advised the questioner 1. I don’t know 2. I will find out for you and give you the info or 3. Would you like me to refer you to relevant clinician. This takes confidence in ones knowledge, skills and ability. Patients mostly liked my approach it seemed.
 
Those carbs are way too high. I am down to about 80 gms per day of carbs, 100 of protein and 80 of fat with a total of 1000 to 1200 cals. I have cut my insulin from 68 units to 11 units a day in 3 months. I also go to the gym 4 or 5 times a week burning about 300 cals each time. I do have a winter effect and having got my weight down from about 188 lbs to 170 lbs it is now back up to 175 and stable. Cut the carbs and the cals they are not needed and be careful with fats because I think the body will turn those into glucose if no carbs available. And don't go with the peanut butter suggested by many dieticians it is full of carbs and some brands contain icing sugar so that it spreads easily and I am not sure if it is always included in the ingredients.
 
Well done on your achievements. Just to say Fats do not turn into glucose. Protein might if not fat adapted and available but more slowly than carbs. All peanut butters are not created equal. Mine is 4g in 100g. Read the labels, I’ve never seen icing sugar in any I’ve looked at and it has to be included on the label.
 
Stephen Lewis said:
be careful with fats because I think the body will turn those into glucose if no carbs available
Click to expand...
So far as I am aware I don't think that is biologically possible..Protein can get turned into to glucose through Gluconeogenesis but I don't think the same can be said of fat. And again so far as I am aware GNG is more of a demand driven process than a given.
 
I have Whole Earth crunchy peanut butter which is 7.4g per 100g.
 
JohnEGreen said:
I make my own it's so easy peanuts blender and a little oil.
Click to expand...
That’s a good idea but I don’t eat a lot of it and I usually just have a teaspoon if I’m hungry between meals.
 
Cana said:
This is the chart nurse gave me as to what I should be eating!!
Click to expand...
That is just a general chart that has been around for years on what nutrition the human body needs. It depends on life style some people need more some less but not much use for diabetics who do low carb
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…