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Your Diabetes

            
 DVLA

If you are on a diabetes medication that requires you to inform the DVLA, (see table) it is your responsibility to do so.

Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) can lead to confusion and affect your ability to drive. This can increase the risk of accidents. Your ability to recognize and treat hypos, and the development of diabetes complications, may affect your ability to drive safely.

By law you must inform the DVLA if you are on any of the medications listed in table 1 and / or

  • You need laser treatment on both eyes, or in the remaining eye - if you have sight in one eye only.

  • You are unable to read (with glasses or contact lenses if necessary) a car number plate at 20.5 metres (67 feet) or 20 metres (65 feet) where narrower characters are used.

  • You develop any problems with your circulation or sensation in your legs or feet that make it necessary for you to drive certain types of adapted vehicles.

  • You suffer from more than one episode of severe hypoglycaemia (severe hypoglycaemia is defined as a hypo requiring a third party intervention to treat the hypo) within 12 months or you are at high risk of developing severe hypoglycaemia.

  • For Group 2 (bus or lorry) one episode of hypoglycaemia should be reported immediately.

  • You develop impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (delay or difficulty in recognizing the warning symptoms of a low blood glucose level)

  • You suffer severe hypoglycaemia while driving.

  • An existing medical condition get worse or you develop any other condition that my affect your driving ability.

You must also inform your vehicle insurance company when you commence insulin therapy.

Do I need to notify the DVLA? 

Your Diabetes Treatment 

Group 1

(Car and Motorcycles) 

Group 2

(Bus or Lorry- LGV/PCV) 
Diet alone

 NO NO
Tablets not included below (these have a low risk of causing a hypo)  NO  YES
Non insulin injectables  NO  YES
Tablets that carry a risk of hypoglycaemia. These include:

Sulfonylureas including Gliclazide, Glipizide, Glemeparide.

Glinides: including

Repaglinide, nateglinide

  NO  YES
Insulin  YES  YES
Temporary insulin (e.g. following a heart attack or if needing for gestational diabetes)


 

  NO  YES

For drivers on insulin you must inform the DVLA, your licence will then be renewed every one, two or three years. Any changes to your condition or treatment which occurs between renewals should be reported when they happen and not wait until your renewal date.

Drivers who are using insulin for a temporary period only (less than three months, or for gestational diabetes less than three months after delivery) do not need to inform the DVLA unless you have problems with hypos, severe hypos or hypo unawareness.

The law regarding driving Group 2 vehicles (bus, lorry) when using insulin has changed. If you demonstrate that you meet the following criteria, then you may apply to drive a group 2 vehicle.

  • Well controlled diabetes (with evidence of three months of results on a blood glucose memory meter)
  • You have had no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia
  • You have early warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia i.e. when your blood glucose levels begin to drop too low.

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