Driving

Having diabetes does not mean that you need to give up driving, but it does mean that you need to plan in advance before you get behind the wheel.

Group 1 driver (cars and motorbikes)

  • If you are on insulin, you must tell the DVLA (in the UK) or DVA (Northern Ireland).
  • Your license will then be renewed every one, two, or three years.
  • Any changes to your condition or treatment which occur between renewals (e.g complications which might affect your ability to drive safely) should be reported when they happen.
  • Drivers who are under medical supervision by a doctor do not need to notify if insulin is used for a temporary period only (less than 3 months or for gestational diabetes less than 3 months after delivery) unless they have problems with hypos/severe hypos/hypo unawareness

If you are a Group 1 driver on non-insulin medication for diabetes you do not need to notify unless:

  • You have had two episodes of severe hypoglycemia within the last 12 months (where you were completely dependent on another person to treat your hypo)
  • You develop impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (where you are unable to recognize the hypo when it starts)
  • You experience a disabling hypo whilst driving
  • You have other medical conditions or changes to existing medical conditions which could affect your ability to drive safely. Examples are: problems with vision (e.g. laser treatment/injections), circulation, or sensation (e.g. peripheral neuropathy).

Hypo related problems are most likely to happen on sulphonylurea or glinide tablets. If you are unsure whether your medication could cause hypos check with your diabetes care team.

Group 2 driver (bus or lorry)

  • You must tell the DVLA if you have diabetes for which you take any type of medication.
  • If you have insulin treatment you will undergo an independent medical assessment every year. This also applies to holders of C1 licence which may previously have been included on your standard car/motorbike license.
  • You should monitor your blood glucose levels regularly and store results on a memory meter.
  • You will need to provide three months of continuous meter readings at your assessment.
  • Any changes to your condition or treatment (e.g complications which might affect your ability to drive safely) should be reported.