DIABETES & DRIVING

Question 1

What is diabetes?

Answer 1

Persistent hyperglycaemia

Question 2

Diabetes can be caused by

Answer 2

Deficient insulin secretion (Type 1)
Resistance to the action of insulin (Type 2)
Pregnancy (Gestational)
Medications (Secondary)

Question 3

Type 1 diabetes

Answer 3

Deficient insulin secretion

Question 4

Type 2 diabetes

Answer 4

Resistance to the action of insulin

Question 5

Assessing fitness to drive

Answer 5

All drivers being treated with insulin must notify the DVLA
* Drivers should be assessed on awareness of hypoglycaemia
* ‘the capability of bringing their vehicle to a safe controlled stop’.

Question 6

Group 1 drivers

Answer 6

• Adequate awareness of hypoglycaemia
• No more than 1 episode of severe hypoglycaemia while awake in the preceding 12 month

Question 7

Group 2 drivers

Answer 7

• Group 2 drivers must report all episodes of severe (requires assistance) hypoglycaemia episodes including in sleep
• Full awareness of hypoglycaemia
• NO EPISODES of severe hypoglycaemia in the preceding 12 months
• Must use a blood glucose meter with sufficient memory to store 3 months of readings
• Visual complications - must notify DVLA and not drive

Question 8

Advice from DVLA

Answer 8

• Drivers treated with insulin should always carry a glucose meter and blood-glucose strips
• Check blood-glucose concentration no more than 2 hours before driving and every 2 hours while driving
• Blood-glucose should always be above 5 mmol/litre while driving
• If blood-glucose falls ‹ 5 mmol/litre → take a snack
• Ensure a supply of fast-acting carbohydrate is available in the vehicle

Question 9

How often should a driver check their blood glucose?

Answer 9

2 hours before setting off and every 2 hours whilst driving

Question 10

When is a person considered to have hypoglycaemia?

Answer 10

Considered as blood glucose ‹ 4mmol/litre

Question 11

What is normal state

Answer 11

5mmol/L

Question 12

Hypoglycaemia whilst driving

Answer 12

Driver should:
* Safely stop vehicle
* Switch off the engine, remove keys from the ignition, and move from the driver’s seat
- Eat or drink a suitable source of sugar;
- Wait until 45 minutes after blood-glucose has returned to normal, before continuing journey.

Question 13

How long should the driver wait after their blood-glucose has returned to normal before continuing their journey?

Answer 13

45 mins

Question 14

What to do if their hypoglycaemia awareness is lost?

Answer 14

Stop driving if they are unable to stop and pull over safely
Alert the DVLA