Around one million drivers have received an update on their driving licence status, which could see them fined or even prosecuted.
Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard spoke in the Commons recently to question the Department for Transport about people with diabetes and their driving licences.
The MP for Witney asked what criteria the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) use in the consideration of applications for licence renewals from drivers who take insulin and diabetes medication.
Responding on behalf of the DfT, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood explained that the DVLA assesses licence applications based on the stability of diabetes management.
The Labour MP for Wakefield and Rothwell said: “Car and motorcycle drivers who use insulin must demonstrate adequate hypoglycaemic awareness and must not have experienced two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in the previous 12 months.
“The most recent episode must have occurred more than three months prior to application.
“Drivers are also required to attend regular medical reviews and meet the statutory eyesight standards.”
He added that all insulin-treated drivers must comply with glucose monitoring requirements, including checking levels before driving and at regular intervals when travelling.
The Local Transport Minister explained how the DVLA assesses licence rules for people with diabetes
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PA/DVLAThe Local Transport Minister said this could be completed either by using finger-prick testing or continuous glucose monitoring systems, like the Freestyle Libre.
He continued, saying: “For drivers using non-insulin diabetes medications, assessments focus on whether the treatment carries a risk of hypoglycaemia.
“Car and motorcycle drivers are required to notify the DVLA only if such a risk exists, while lorry and bus drivers must notify the DVLA of any diabetes medication use.
“In all cases, licence entitlement depends on evidence of stable diabetes management, appropriate monitoring, and effective hypoglycaemic control.”
Drivers may need to inform the DVLA if they have diabetes | PA
Drivers can be slapped with a huge £1,000 fine if they do not alert the DVLA about a medical condition that affects their ability behind the wheel.
If the unreported medical condition leads to an accident, they could be prosecuted if they were found to be responsible.
Drivers who treat their diabetes with insulin need to tell the DVLA if their insulin treatment lasts, or will last, over three months.
Similarly, someone must report to the DVLA if they have gestational diabetes and their insulin treatment lasts more than three months after the birth.
There are 270,000 people in England living with type 1 diabetes | GETTY
The DVLA must also be alerted if they get “disabling hypoglycaemia” or if a medical professional tells them that they are at risk of developing it.
However, people with a bus, coach or lorry licence must stop driving and tell the DVLA when they start insulin, with the agency telling them when they can start driving again.
Car or motorbike licence holders should check with their doctor or nurse if their treatment with tablets or non-insulin injections means they need to tell the DVLA.
Any driver who treats their diabetes with their diet does not need to tell the DVLA, regardless of which licence they have.
