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Learning to drive
You may be worried that diabetes might affect your ability to drive safely. There is no reason you cannot drive safely if you have diabetes and it does not necessarily mean that you will have problems getting insurance to drive. This section outlines the facts you need to be aware of in terms of obtaining a driving licence, notifying the relevant authorities, and getting insurance.
Driving and the DVLA
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) define two vehicle categories:
Group 1: cars and motorcycles
Group 2: large goods vehicles (LGV) and passenger carrying vehicles (PCV).
When you first apply for your licence, the application form will ask whether you have, or have ever had, any of a number of medical problems, including diabetes. Make sure you answer all the diabetes questions accurately and, if you use insulin, make sure you state that you use insulin to manage your condition.
If you already hold a driving licence when you are diagnosed with insulin-controlled diabetes, you must by law notify the DVLA as soon as possible.
Group 1 vehicles (cars and motorcycles)
You will be able to retain your licence for cars and motorcycles. However, you must stop driving if you:
- experience disabling hypoglycaemia (hypo), e.g. if you need a third party to assist you as a result of your hypo
- lose your warning signs of a hypo
- suffer recurrent hypos.
Group 2 vehicles (large goods vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles): you will not generally be allowed to drive these vehicles.
If you are at all unsure what to do, speak to your diabetes healthcare team and check with the DVLA.
Keeping the DVLA updated
You must notify the DVLA if:
- your condition has worsened since your last licence was issued
- your corrected eyesight (with your glasses or contact lenses) does not meet the required standard of reading a number plate (legible from a distance of 20 metres)
- you have had laser therapy to both eyes (or to one if you only have vision in that eye)
- you develop numbness of the feet to the extent that you cannot feel the pedals.
- you lose your hypo warning signs or suffer recurrent, uncontrolled hypos – a hypo while you are in charge of a motor vehicle can be fatal, not only for you, but also for others on the road
Given their implications for safe driving, it is important that you learn to recognise the symptoms of a hypo and know how to treat them. Ask your diabetes care team for the most up-to-date information, or click here for a simple guide.
You can notify the DVLA of your medical condition by phone, letter or online. Click here to access the DVLA website.
Insurance
You should tell your driving insurer that you have diabetes. If you do not tell them about your diabetes, it may invalidate your cover in the event of a claim. Failure to notify the DVLA may also invalidate your insurance cover.
It is always worth shopping around for quotes from a number of insurers, as there can be a big difference in premiums. This is particularly important for a young driver, as premiums can be expensive when you first pass your test. Diabetes UK is just one of the organisations that offers motor insurance suitable for people with diabetes.
Driving and Diabetes: a Checklist
Here is some useful information on managing your diabetes before, during and after a journey:
- Check your blood glucose before you start your journey. You must not drive if you feel hypo or if your blood glucose is less than 5 mmol/L
- On long journeys, check your blood glucose every 2 hours. Plan your journey to allow time for snack stops
- If you feel hypo when you are driving, do not ignore the warning signs. Stop as soon as it is safe to do so and treat the hypo – take the keys out of the ignition and move to the passenger seat when it is safe to do so
- Wait for 45 minutes after your blood glucose has returned to normal before you drive
- Carry glucose tablets, sweets or a sugary drink, and biscuits in the car in case of emergency. Keep these somewhere that you can access them easily if you start to feel hypo e.g. in the driver’s door, NOT in the boot or glove compartment
- Carry some form of diabetes identification, for example your iKyp card
Top Tips
for Learning to Drive
Before you have your first driving lesson, tell your driving instructor that you have diabetes. Explain what it means and reassure them that you can manage your diabetes effectively.
Always carry a snack and drink in the car in case you get stuck in traffic. Make sure you take extra liquid with you in hot weather.
Ask your diabetes nurse for an Around U iKyp information card, which you can add your emergency contact details to and carry on you at all times.
If you have a top tip you’d like to share with other readers, send it to us and your tip could appear on this website!
