How does diabetes affect my driving?
- Hypoglycaemia can cause loss of consciousness if not detected and treated quickly.
- Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), can cause blurring of the vision.
- In the long run, poorly controlled diabetes can lead to complications that affect driving.
Can I still drive if I have diabetes?
- Yes, most people with diabetes are able to drive unless they are limited by certain complications associated with diabetes. These include hypoglycaemia, vision problems and nerve damage to the feet.
- If you have diabetes related complications, you should work closely with your diabetes health care team for actions you can take to continue to drive safely.
How can I keep myself and others safe when driving with diabetes?
If you are taking insulin or other glucose lowering medication:
- Test your blood glucose levels before driving.
- Do not drive if your blood glucose level is below 90mg/dl.
- Carry your blood glucose monitor, stop and check your blood sugar at regular intervals.
- Always carry glucose tablets or sweets to correct any hypoglycaemia that may occur.
DO NOT ignore symptoms of hypoglycaemia whilst driving. If you feel its onset, stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so and treat the hypoglycaemia.
DO NOT resume driving until at least 45 minutes after your hypoglycaemia symptoms have completely subsided and your glucose level is above 90mg/dl.
What should I do if I have no warning signs of hypoglycaemia?
- If you experience hypoglycaemia without advance warning, YOU SHOULD NOT DRIVE. Talk to your healthcare team about methods available to improve your hypoglycaemia awareness.
Checklist for drivers with diabetes
- I test my blood glucose before I drive.
- I only drive when my blood glucose is >90mg/dl.
- I carry an identification card (ID) that says I have diabetes.
- I carry my glucose monitor when I drive.
- I carry glucose tablets and sweets when I drive.
- I stop and check my blood glucose level every two hours during long drives.
- I stop and check my blood glucose if I am feeling unwell whilst driving.
What should I do if driving is my occupation?
- "If you are a professional driver e.g. taxi driver, bus driver, lorry driver, you must inform the RTA (road and transport authority) about your condition.
- It is recommended that drivers treated with insulin should not drive emergency vehicles such as police cars and ambulances.
