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Type 1 Control - Blood Sugar Reading concerns

C

cnh1986

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Hi All. My name is Chris, I'm 27 and have had type 1 diabetes for 12 years with control that has been 'up and down' but mostly stabalised now. I am hoping for some advice on how other people with type 1 diabetes deal with irregular eating patterns and how they achieve accurate blood sugar readings.
I'm a self employed musician and my work often means that I have irregular meal times etc which is why a few years ago I switched onto a Basal Bolus regime a few years ago. Since an appointment with my specialist on Monday I was informed that DVLA now require diabetics to check their blood before every car journey - this is something I've half done in the past but not before every journey. I am slightly concerned that if I eat for example my lunch at 12;30 and then have to drive at 14:00, my blood sugar reading will still be slightly higher as a result of my lunch - and also how this could be perceived by the DVLA medic team. I now do 4 blood readings per day, adding in a check before every single car journey (sometimes including long distances stopping every 2 hours) this will probably take me to 10 readings per day and with them all being at different times - will not provide an overall well controlled picture of my diabetic control. Is there anybody else out there who has a similar lifestyle and is slightly worried about this as is concerns me greatly - having a driving license is absolutely essential for me to continue in my career!
Another slightly concerning note is the recent news that diabetics could be limited to 2 blood test strips per day - how is it possible to achieve an accurate pattern of control - do all pre driving tests on 2 strips per day?!?!

Any advice anybody has would be gratefully received.

Many thanks in advance - Chris
 
Never heard of the 2 strip a day restriction Chris, don't know where you read that but it's a load of rubbish as the Dept of Health have said that no restrictions should be in place for type 1's.

The DVLA say that you should test within 30 mins of driving and then 2 hours after but there's no need to retest in that 2 hour time frame if your in and out the car, your 'slightly higher' readings postprandial won't be a concern to them as they (DVLA) are more concerned with low bg readings and don't seem to have a figure for a upper bg limit and safe driving .
 
Thanks for your response - didn't realise they had no upper BG limit - seems slightly odd! Thanks - apologies I'm just concerned obviously! Best wishes, Chris
 
I also have the same issues Chris, not as a musician, but a frequent traveller for my work. I don't drive most of the time when I'm away, but next week will be doing so in Belgium.

My plan is to do exactly what I do at home and as noblehead said. Test within 30 mins of getting in the car. If >5.0 that's good for the next two hours however many times you get in and out of the car. So if I get up, have breakfast, restest post breakfast and then drive to site, all OK. I then park up for the day, and retest before I leave site.

If I'm at home and at the weekend go into town for some shopping, I'll test after breakfast, go into town, do all I need and will normally be back to the car and home again before the two hours is up. I will not retest under those circumstances
 
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