Mastering Safe Driving with Diabetes

Posted on 13 June, 2023

Diabetic driver in parked vehicle, checking Glucometer to measure blood sugar levels

Written by Advantage’s Health & Wellbeing partner: Dr Corrinne Rae Giles – M.D., Registered Dietician, Global Certified Wellness Coach

Driving is a common and essential activity for many people, but it can also pose some challenges and risks for people with diabetes. Diabetes can affect your ability to drive safely in two main ways:

If you are at risk of having low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia or hypo) due to your diabetes treatment, such as insulin or certain tablets. A hypo can cause symptoms like sweating, shaking, confusion, drowsiness, or loss of consciousness, which can impair your driving performance and put you and others in danger.
If you develop diabetes complications that affect your vision, such as diabetic retinopathy. This is a condition where high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye). Retinopathy can cause blurred vision, blind spots, floaters or flashes of light, which can affect your ability to see clearly on the road.

How to drive safely with diabetes

If you have diabetes and want to drive, you need to follow some rules and precautions to ensure your safety and that of other road users. Here are some tips:

Check your blood sugar level before driving and every two hours during long journeys. Your level should be between 5 and 10 mmol/L before you start always driving and above 4 mmol/L. If it is below 4 mmol/L, treat your hypo immediately and wait until it rises above 5 mmol/L before driving again.
Carry a glucose meter and some fast-acting carbohydrate snacks (such as glucose tablets, fruit juice or sweets) with you always. Also have some slow-release carbohydrate snacks (such as biscuits, cereal bars, or sandwich) for longer journeys. The best slow-release options are wholegrain biscuits or cereal bars and wholegrain bread with protein filler (peanut butter, cheese, meat, or fish)
Avoid driving if you feel unwell, tired, or stressed, as these can affect your blood sugar levels and your concentration. Also avoid driving if you have had alcohol or drugs that can impair your judgement or reaction time.
Plan your journeys ahead and take regular breaks every two hours. This will help you avoid fatigue, dehydration, and low blood sugar levels. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy meals and snacks at regular intervals.
Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that identifies you as having diabetes. This will help emergency services to treat you quickly and appropriately in case of an accident or a severe hypo.
Keep your diabetes under control by following your treatment plan, monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly, attending your check-ups and screening appointments, and managing any complications promptly.

How to inform the authorities about your diabetes

If you have diabetes and want to drive, you need to inform the relevant authorities about your condition and how it affects your ability to drive. The rules vary depending on where you live and what type of licence you have.

In the UK, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is responsible for issuing driving licences and assessing the medical fitness of drivers. The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) performs a similar role in Northern Ireland.

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you need to tell the DVLA if:

You have diabetes that is treated with insulin for more than three months
You have diabetes that is treated with tablets or non-insulin injections that can cause hypos
You have diabetes that causes disabling hypos (where you need help from someone else) or if a medical professional has told you that you are at risk of developing them
You have diabetes that causes vision problems that affect your driving

You can report your condition online or by filling in a form (DIAB1 for car or motorbike licence; VDIAB1 for bus, coach or lorry licence) and sending it to the DVLA. The DVLA will then decide whether you can keep your licence, whether you need a medical assessment or an eye test, or whether you need any restrictions on your licence (such as duration or vehicle type).

If you live in Northern Ireland, you need to tell the DVA if:

You have diabetes that is treated with insulin
You have diabetes that is treated with tablets or non-insulin injections that can cause hypos
You have diabetes that causes disabling hypos or if a medical professional has told you that you are at risk of developing them
You have diabetes that causes vision problems that affect your driving

You can report your condition by filling in a form (DL1 for car or motorbike licence; DL2 for bus, coach or lorry licence) and sending it to the DVA. The DVA will then decide whether you can keep your licence, whether you need a medical assessment or an eye test, or whether you need any restrictions on your licence.

You can find more information and guidance on the DVLA or DVA websites, or by contacting them directly.

Summary

Driving with diabetes is possible and safe for most people, as long as some rules are followed and precautions to prevent and treat hypos, manage complications, and inform the authorities about the condition. Driving with diabetes requires regular blood sugar monitoring, careful planning, and good diabetes control. By doing so, you can enjoy the freedom and convenience of driving without compromising your health or safety.

Learn more:

According to the search results, the number of people with diabetes in the UK is estimated to be 4.8 million, and it is predicted to rise to 5.3 million by 2025. This includes 3.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes and 940,000 people undiagnosed. About 90% of them have type 2 diabetes and about 8% have type 1 diabetes. Diabetes prevalence is higher in men than in women, and higher in people from South Asian and black ethnic groups compared with people from white, mixed or other ethnic groups. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the UK, and its prevalence is increasing. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/diabetes-type-2/background-information/prevalence/

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