Testing before driving

[johnrbull]

I have had type 2 Diabetes for 22 years.
It has always been very well controlled with drugs i.e. Just Metformin(2000mg daily) and Gliclazide (160mg daily),and still is.
In 22 years I have never had a Hypo. I have never had a reading below 6.0, usually it's 7.0 plus.
Is it correct, that last year my GP said I should be testing my blood sugar every time before I drive? Why after all these years are they now telling me this? I stress that my blood sugar results have not changed in recent years, and only a few years ago they were saying I shouldn't test at all!

 

[bulkbiker]

It has always been very well controlled with drugs

I have never had a reading below 6.0, usually it's 7.0 plus.

I'm not sure I would agree that the first statement is in accordance with the second statement.

But to answer your question yes you probably should test before driving as Glic can indeed bring on hypos.

 

[Japes]

I have had type 2 Diabetes for 22 years.
It has always been very well controlled with drugs i.e. Just Metformin(2000mg daily) and Gliclazide (160mg daily),and still is.
In 22 years I have never had a Hypo. I have never had a reading below 6.0, usually it's 7.0 plus.
Is it correct, that last year my GP said I should be testing my blood sugar every time before I drive? Why after all these years are they now telling me this? I stress that my blood sugar results have not changed in recent years, and only a few years ago they were saying I shouldn't test at all!

Welcome to the forum. @johnrbull

Back in my misdiagnosed T2 days, I was told by the DSN I saw at the time that I had to inform the DVLA and follow the driving guidelines about testing, not driving below 5, always having hypo treatments to hand and waiting for the correct amount of time after a below 5 number when I was put on Gliclazide. I was glad I had, as it did give me hypos.

The need to test pre-driving was the reason I managed to keep getting test strips on prescription even when there was pressure for my GP to stop when I had a very stable settled spell before it all fell apart and I was correctly diagnosed with T1/LADA.

 

[HSSS]

This would apply to your situation.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/diabete...etes-treated-by-medication-other-than-insulin. Which says for sulphonylureas and glinides for groups 1 (car) use - May drive and need not notify the DVLA, provided:

■ no more than 1 episode of severe hypoglycaemia while awake in the last 12 months and the most recent episode occurred more than 3 months ago

■ should practise appropriate glucose monitoring at times relevant to driving

■ under regular review


For other situations the guidance is

https://www.gov.uk/diabetes-driving
https://assets.publishing.service.g...e-to-insulin-treated-diabetes-and-driving.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.g...vers-with-diabetes-treated-by-non-insulin.pdf

 

[HSSS]

The fact that you run your bloods high generally (consistent perhaps but not what I’d call very well controlled) is probably why you don’t hypo. That’s doesn’t mean you couldn’t on that medication though, hence the requirement to test before driving.

 

[Catman507]

I am not too sure about type 2 but for myself with type 1 the DVLA put me on a disabled person's license of which can't be overturned. There could have been a reform with driving conditions quite possibly, they advised me I could not drive without doing a blood test and to pull over every 2 hours I believe? Restricted on what I can drive too. I will have to dig the paperwork out because it may have been a change in the rules quite possibly because mine stated a glucose range for being behind the wheel. :/

 

[Daibell]

You must test before driving if you take Gliclazide but my GP/DN never told me; I found out by accident.