Living with diabetes can affect many day to day aspects of your life and leave you with many questions. In this section we aim to answer as many of those questions as we can.
Living with diabetes can affect many day to day aspects of your life and leave you with many questions. In this section we aim to answer as many of those questions as we can.
Having diabetes is not an issue for driving but if you are taking medications that leave you at risk of hypoglycaemia you must take extra precautions and you must inform the National Driver Licence Service.
CHECK WITH YOUR PHARMACIST IF YOUR MEDICATIONS LEAVE YOU AT RISK OF HYPOGLYCEAMIA e.g. Insulin or Sulphonylureas such as Gliclazide (Diamicron®) or generic versions such as Diabrezide, Diaglyc, Diacronal MR, Diaclide MR, Gliclazide, Zycron MR.or the post prandial regular Nateglinide (Starlix®).
If you are not at risk of hypoglycaemia you do not need to inform the National Driver Licence Service. But do declare diet controlled diabetes as a pre-existing health condition where indicated on application/renewal form and remember you must tell them if you start any of the medications that increase the risk of hypoglyceamia.
Drivers at risk of hypoglycaemia are advised to take the following precautions:
• You must always carry your glucose meter and blood glucose strips with you. You must check your blood glucose before the first journey and every two hours whilst you are driving.
• In each case if your blood glucose is 5.0mmol/l or less, take a snack. If it is less than 4.0mmol/l or you feel hypoglycaemic, do not drive and take appropriate action to correct glucose level.
• If hypoglycaemia develops while driving, stop the vehicle as soon as possible.
• You must switch off the engine, remove the keys from the ignition and move from the driver’s seat.
• You must not start driving until 45 minutes after blood glucose has returned to normal. It takes up to 45 minutes for the brain to recover fully.
• Always keep an emergency supply of fast-acting carbohydrate such as glucose tablets, lucozade or sweets within easy reach in the vehicle.
• You should carry personal identification to show that you have diabetes in case of injury in a road traffic accident.
• Particular care should be taken during changes of insulin regimens, changes of lifestyle, exercise, travel and pregnancy.
• You must take regular meals, snacks and rest periods on long journeys. Always avoid alcohol.
Hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia (also known as a hypo) is the medical term for a low blood glucose (sugar) level. Severe hypoglycaemia means that the assistance of another person is required. The risk of hypoglycaemia is the main danger to safe driving and this risk increases the longer you are on medications that increase your risk of hypoglycaemia (see list above). This may endanger your own life as well as that of other road users. Accidents caused by hypoglycaemia are because drivers carry on driving even though they get warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia occurring. If you get warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia whilst driving, you must always stop as soon as safely possible – do not ignore the warning symptoms.
Early Symptoms of Hypoglycaemia include:
• Sweating, shakiness or trembling, feeling hungry, fast pulse or palpitations, anxiety, tingling lips. If you do not treat this it may result in more severe symptoms such as:
• Slurred speech, difficulty concentrating, confusion, disorderly or irrational behaviour, which may be mistaken for drunkenness. If left untreated this may lead to loss of consciousness.
You must also inform National Driver Licence Service when renewing your licence:
• If you have suffered more than one episode of severe hypoglycaemia within the last 12 months. You must also tell us if you or your medical team feel you are at high risk of developing severe hypoglycaemia.
• You have developed an impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (difficulty in recognising the warning symptoms of low blood sugar).
• You suffer severe hypoglycaemia while driving.
• You don’t meet the vision standards set out in these Guidelines (See Chapter 7 ofSláinte agus Tiomáint; Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines for eyesight standards).
• You develop any problems with the circulation or sensation in your legs or feet which make it necessary for you to drive certain types of vehicles only, for example automatic vehicles or vehicles with a hand-operated accelerator or brake. This must be shown on your driving licence.
• An existing medical condition gets worse or you develop any other condition that may affect your driving safely.
• If your doctor, specialist or optician tells you to report your condition to the National Driver Licence Service.
For people seeking a HGV licence (Group 2 drivers for bus/lorry) all of the above apply but in addition any episode of severe hypoglycaemia must be reported immediately.
In the interests of road safety, you must be sure that you can safely control a vehicle at all times.
Renewing your licence for a Class 1 licence – cars and motor cycles
Each time a person with diabetes at risk of hypoglycaemia wishes to renew their driving licence, they must present a completed medical form (completed within the previous month) stating their fitness to drive. The duration of the medical certification of fitness to drive will determine the duration of licence you can apply for i.e. generally the licence will only be issued for three years duration but if your doctor certifies you fit to drive for longer i.e. more than three years, apply for the longer time. Diabetes Ireland acknowledges that the shorter duration imposes additional costs and is seeking the implementation of alternative practices.
Renewing your licence for a Class 2 licence – Trucks, buses and trailer vehicles
Only an issue if you are at risk of hypoglycaemia, which requires you to present a completed medical form (completed within the previous month) stating your fitness to drive. The duration of the license is one year and is dependent on having appropriate understanding and awareness of hypoglyceamia, no episodes of “severe” hypoglyceamia, and you must demonstrate regular monitoring (at least twice daily and regularly at times relevant to driving) using a meter with memory capacity. For your medical review, you must have three month’s blood glucose readings. Qualifying Conditions which also must be met include:
• No episode of hypoglycaemia requiring the assistance of another person has occurred in the preceding 12 months.
• Must have appropriate awareness of hypoglycaemia at appropriate glucose level.
• Must demonstrate an understanding of the risks of hypoglycaemia.
• Will not be able to apply until your condition has been stable for a period of at least one month.
• Must regularly monitor your condition by checking blood glucose levels at least twice daily and at times relevant to driving. A glucose meter with a memory function to measure and record blood glucose levels must be used.
• At the annual examination by a consultant endocrinologist, 3 months of blood glucose readings must be available.
• Must have no other condition which would render you a danger when driving Group 2 vehicles.
• You will be required to comply with the directions of doctors(s) treating your diabetes and to report immediately to the NDLS any significant change in your condition.
Medical Report
Guidelines from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) state that a driving licence application must be accompanied by a medical report form filled out by your doctor. You can download a medical report here.
Eyesight
See Chapter 7 of guidelines “Sláinte agus Tiomáint; Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines”for eyesight standards
Limb Problems
Limb problems/amputations are unlikely to prevent driving. They may be overcome by driving certain types of vehicles e.g. automatics or one with hand controls.
Please note: The above is taken from Driving Guidelines for people with Diabetes – source: Medical guidelines “Sláinte agus Tiomáint; Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines (PDF)”. Read Full report here.
Availability and Shortfalls
The insurance market shows a friendlier face today to people with diabetes than it did a few years ago. Some major breakthroughs have been achieved, but in terms of the goals of the Diabetes Ireland, it is still a work in progress.
Below we summarise the more usual areas where a person with diabetes interfaces with the world of insurance. Diabetes Ireland is continuing its mission to further improve matters through ongoing negotiations with Government and the insurance market.
So what is it like for someone with diabetes looking for common forms of insurance?
Motor insurance
This is the area where the greatest progress has been made. A person with diabetes seeking to insure their car can now do so knowing that all members of the Insurance Federation have agreed that they will not load their premiums for diabetes.
For decades, many people with diabetes withheld details of their condition from their insurer knowing that they would either be refused cover or loaded. We are now in a more enlightened time and everyone should disclose details to their insurer. This also holds true for the Licensing Authority. Confirmation from their GP that they are fit to drive will keep everyone happy.
House insurance
No problem, no discrimination exists.
Travel insurance
Regrettably, this is an area that is still fraught with danger for the unwary traveller. Most travel insurance policies purchased these days, whether direct from low cost airlines, travel agents, insurance brokers or direct from an insurance company, will have a general exclusion in respect of claims arising out of a pre-existing condition.
This means that someone with diabetes who finds themselves suffering from complications while abroad would have to pay their own hospital bills, unless they had disclosed their condition in advance to their insurer and received confirmation in writing that they would be covered.
Even if they were hospitalised for another reason, say a car accident, and their treatment was complicated by their diabetes they would be refused cover. The good news is that cover is available so don’t get caught out.
Life insurance
There is no avoiding that the insurance market will always load for diabetes whether it is type 1 or type 2. Loadings vary between insurers based on their assessment of the individual’s health and management of their diabetes.
In some cases insurers refuse to quote if they feel the mortality risk is too high. Still at other times they postpone a decision until some future date, perhaps six months or 12 months, to see if certain improvements can be achieved.
Such decisions can be particularly traumatic for someone buying a house.
Mortgage lenders will usually insist on life cover being in place before allowing the funds to be drawn down to complete a purchase. If cover is not available the purchaser may be unable to proceed and forfeit their deposit if contracts have been exchanged with the builder.
Anyone over 18 can enter into a life insurance contract. The motto should be that the sooner you arrange life cover the better.
Income protection
No progress here. It is not available on an individual basis but may be available on a company group basis.
Investment products, pensions and PRSAs
These are not affected by diabetes.
For details about insurance schemes contact the ERM Financial Services 01-8454361
Diabetes Ireland Private Motor Car Insurance Scheme
Diabetes Ireland, in partnership with Zurich and ERM Financial Services, has launched a Private Motor Car Insurance Scheme offering competitive preferential motor insurance rates to people with diabetes and their families.
The scheme which is open to Diabetes Ireland members and their families will:
enable you to switch insurers more easily
eliminate the hassle and cost of obtaining a medical report from your GP or Consultant.
provide an instant quote so you can compare it against your current premium
give you access to many other benefits offered by Diabetes Ireland
To get a quote and compare costs, simply call Zurich Insurance on Locall 1890 161 162
The scheme will mostly favour members who are over 30 years of age and will factor in all the normal benefits you would expect from your motor insurance policy.
If you are not a member now, don’t worry, ring Zurich for your quote, compare the cost, and if you feel it’s worth it, ring Diabetes Ireland on 1850 909 909 to become a member or click here.
This scheme, in conjunction with Zurich and ERM, is based on the premise that Diabetes Ireland members have a respect for their personal health and wellbeing and thus manage their condition effectively placing them in a lower risk category than the general population. As a result, our members will be offered preferential competitive rates.
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