Diabetic drivers

[Floridatilly]

Anyone type 1 diabetic and drive?
My daughter applied for her provisional driving license and after an age she finally received a medical questionnaire regarding her diabetes.
On the forwarding letter it stated that this form can take 6-8 weeks to process then a face to face medical could be requested and/or provisional license refused.

She turned 17 in may and been excited and desperate to start her lessons. Any other type 1 diabetes had problems with getting a license?

[KarenG]

I seem to remember your daughter may not have good hypo awareness? But I may have that wrong. If so, That’s something to be very honest about when she completes the health questionnaire.

I have never had a face to face appointment (as far as I know) but I would assume that DVLA would write to consultant or GP if she has given certain answers regarding her numbers.

I never had a problem getting my licence but that was almost 30 years ago. She will have to renew it every 1, 2 or 3 years for her whole life (unless the rules change).

There are things you have to do before and when driving, make sure blood sugar is over a certain level, as a minimum test every 2 hours (I think, she should check, I do it much more often).

If she has more than a certain number of hypos where she needs assistance in a certain period she will have to surrender her licence.

I have only restarted driving about eight months ago after stopping for four years for some of the reasons above.

Good luck to your DD

[KarenG]

Sorry! I think the stuff I posted above is for insulin dependent diabetics in general rather than just T1s. But as you won’t find a T1 that’s not insulin dependent I guess it’s the same thing!

Also if she is on a pump I don’t know if it works differently, I’m MDI and control via FSL.

[KarenG]

Sorry me again! This is helpful from JDRF and suggests she discussed with her medical team:

jdrf.uk/information-supp...-life/driving/

[scooby99]

DH drives as a T1D; licence renewed every 3 years.
As above, depending on her answers re hypos, number of in x amount of time & whether she has ever needed assistance, the DVLA may write to her GP/consultant for a report or decline her application until x period of time without severe hypos etc.
If she has any sight complications re her diabetes, she may also need to go for specific tests, eg, field vision.
Not giving honest answers invalidates any insurance.

[Floridatilly]

Originally Posted by KarenG

I seem to remember your daughter may not have good hypo awareness? But I may have that wrong. If so, That’s something to be very honest about when she completes the health questionnaire.

I have never had a face to face appointment (as far as I know) but I would assume that DVLA would write to consultant or GP if she has given certain answers regarding her numbers.

I never had a problem getting my licence but that was almost 30 years ago. She will have to renew it every 1, 2 or 3 years for her whole life (unless the rules change).

There are things you have to do before and when driving, make sure blood sugar is over a certain level, as a minimum test every 2 hours (I think, she should check, I do it much more often).

If she has more than a certain number of hypos where she needs assistance in a certain period she will have to surrender her licence.

I have only restarted driving about eight months ago after stopping for four years for some of the reasons above.

Good luck to your DD

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Thank you so much. Yes, unfortunately she has very poor and often no hypo awareness. We did fill the form in honestly and hoping that with her having a dexcom with the alarm it will go in her favour.

The dexcom has been life changing, a total game changer but I am still anxious about her driving. But she is so excited and desperate to drive.
If I am honest I will be shocked if she does get a license because her levels are so bad but I don’t have to heart to tell her.

[KarenG]

Originally Posted by Floridatilly

Thank you so much. Yes, unfortunately she has very poor and often no hypo awareness. We did fill the form in honestly and hoping that with her having a dexcom with the alarm it will go in her favour.

The dexcom has been life changing, a total game changer but I am still anxious about her driving. But she is so excited and desperate to drive.
If I am honest I will be shocked if she does get a license because her levels are so bad but I don’t have to heart to tell her.

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If she has no hypo awareness it doesn’t sound like a good plan to drive? Does she realise this? I would be very worried (sorry to be blunt) about her driving personally. Sorry again this is probably blunt but driving when having low blood sugar is as bad as drink driving

[KarenG]

Could the Dexcom be set to alarm at a higher level so she can take action before she gets remotely near a low? (I don’t know how it works)

[scooby99]

Originally Posted by Floridatilly

Thank you so much. Yes, unfortunately she has very poor and often no hypo awareness. We did fill the form in honestly and hoping that with her having a dexcom with the alarm it will go in her favour.

The dexcom has been life changing, a total game changer but I am still anxious about her driving. But she is so excited and desperate to drive.
If I am honest I will be shocked if she does get a license because her levels are so bad but I don’t have to heart to tell her.

See more...

I think you’re only ‘allowed’ one severe hypo within a twelve month period as a T1D.
I also believe that her GP/consultant are obliged to inform the DVLA of patients they deem unsafe to drive.
If so, with poor/no hypo awareness, her medics may consider her currently unfit to drive & wish to see an extended period of time with her on the dexcom & much improved control before considering whether to give a favourable response to DVLA.

[Floridatilly]

Originally Posted by KarenG

Could the Dexcom be set to alarm at a higher level so she can take action before she gets remotely near a low? (I don’t know how it works)

See more...

Yes, this is how we have it set. Its sends an alarm at 5 so that she can monitor it from there, if arrow is pointing down then she needs to take action. So the alarm goes off before the hypo happens. Same with hypers.
It is set like this to help re educate her body to start recognising hypos herself rather than relying on the dexcom.
It really is amazing!

You are not being blunt, just honest 👍🏻 My husband and I have had these conversations already. Her safety and the safety of others on the roads is paramount.
Its just sad because she hates being diabetic and this seems to be another hurdle to overcome 😫