I always say "no" because it has never affected my ability to drive. I am well controlled and plan to stay that way. Plus, it is a very vague question. If you were 100 pounds overweight, you could possibly have a heart attack, sleep apnea, you could fall asleep at the wheel, anxious, you could have a panic attack. So, I am perfectly comfortable saying no.
Sue
I agree with bsc and Clare and that's how I operate. If they want to know if I take insulin, that's the question they need to ask.
This issue has always made me a bit angry because I've never heard a news report locally of anyone with diabetes causing an accident. We have, however, had multiple reports of people having heart attacks and crashing into buildings. So if they want to target PWD, why aren't they also targeting people with heart disease?
You said you don't remember hearing about an accident caused by a diabetic driver. Let me tell you about my son. Six years ago my 20 year old son and his girlfriend were struck and killed by a truck driven by a man driving in a diabetic coma due to extremely low BG levels. So for everybody who does not tell the DMV that they are a diabetic driver, please test before driving and then retest if you drive more than an hour.
It's interesting that we all have our reason and justification for saying yes or no. There has been some government funded study's that have shown no indication that we as PWD's have more traffic accidents...the study did find that we suffer from more injury's associated with what is referred to as a soft fall when compared to non PWD's.
I would like to thank everyone who has decided to donate their organs. I was diagnosed with Hepatic cellular carcinoma (Absolutely Blind sided in February of this year) and I'm waiting for a organ transplant my blood type is B+ so chances of me receiving a organ are low because only about 5 % of the US population has B+ blood. The system picks the next in line based on how sick they are and every year about 15K indaviduls die while waiting for a organ. I would have no problem excepting a organ from a diabetic as soon as it is placed in my body it will become a diabetic organ.
Enjoy your life anything can happen there are many more land mines on your road through life besides Diabetes...:-)
Oh dear, I am so very sorry to hear of this. No way to get over such a thing, ever. Some PWDs have hypo-unawareness too, so your testing advice is important and sound.
I live in California and I check yes.
The first time I checked yes, I had to go to talk to some official before they would renew my license. It took ten minutes. He asked me some general questions regarding my diabetes management, gave me a short narrative about the potential dangers and the importance of proper management. I nodded, smiled, agreed enthusiastically, made some smalltalk, then was sent on my way with the green light to renew my license.
Driving is a privilage that can be taken away. I figure lieing by ommission on your renewal application would be pretty good grounds. As a general rule, I'll begin the renwal process as soon as possible to deal with potential issues that come up. I've had plenty of issues come up during the renewal, but diabetes has never been one of them.
The DMV clerk may ask one or two questions, but I've never been given the impression that anything like an endo's note or additional documentation is an actual requirement just because you check the box. Usually, the DMV clerk either doesn't notice or appears to have no obligation to enquire.
If the day comes when I am required to produce documentation, so be it, I have plenty of it.
There is a fine line between minimal adequate disclosure and opening yourself up to post-event underwriting. Health insurance companies have been combing through applications for years looking for immaterial errors and voiding coverage when large claims arise. It's nice to be in the right but at $350 per hour for legal fees, challenging the insurance company is something few of us can afford.
I think the MA question - do you take any medications that can cause a change in consciousness - is clear enough. An insulin error can cause loss of consciousness. A friend from my early twenties told me the story of how he had to take control of the steering wheel of his mother's car when he was a young teenager. She was blindly driving into oncoming traffic. She was an early and effictive insulin user.
From a moral perspective, yes I think it should be declared.
From a legal perspective, insurance companies will look into everything to try and remove their liability to pay out. If you have failed to declare a major health issue that can impact on your ability to drive and then you have an accident, you will no doubt have hefty legal bills to look forward to and end up out of pocket and perhaps with a criminal charge.
In the UK I declare it, I am on a 3 year restricted licence. Every three years the vehicle licensing authority writes to by my consultant and my GP and asks them to review my fitness to drive..
If I have more than 1 hypo in a 12 months period that requires 3rd party intervention, e.g. help from the emergency services I am very likely to have my licence revoked.
If my consultant or GP have nothing to update because I have failed to keep my appointments or failed to keep in contact with my healthcare team, again my licence is likely to be revoked.
It is also required that I test my blood sugar before driving a vehicle and at frequent intervals during long journeys.
Although this may surprise some, I feel that it is a sensible approach.
As I said declare it, if it doesn't impact on your driving, you are unlikely to loose you licence or suffer any negative consequences from the declaration. You will also get piece of mind.
Is it true that regular folks in the UK ( Non PWD's) never have to renew their license?
In my life, I've had drivers licenses in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and none of those states have ever asked me that question. But if they did, I'd say "no". I don't feel the answer is deceptive, because diabetes (by itself) is not something that affects my ability to drive safely -- I can, and do, drive quite safely with D.
If I don't take care of myself, and subsequently am not in any shape to drive, well, that's my own problem, not D's problem. Along those lines, that logic applies to even non-D drivers: not enough sleep, too much to drink, kids in the back seat (hopefully not all 3 at once!) all can affect someone's ability to drive safely, and has nothing to do with a "disease or condition".
Yep ha! It is why you get 90 year olds, half blind, driving down the wrong side of the motorway ha..
I believe there are actions in motion to address this issue..
I see your point Scott, seems very different in the UK. I guess the wording of the question is important here.
"Do you have a medical condition that can impact on your ability to drive?"
For me the only answer to this question would be a yes, I am type 1 diabetic and this illness can and has impacted on my ability to drive.
I drive 200 miles a day on average and there have been many times when I have had to pull over due to the onset of a sudden low etc, this is despite checking before I set off, reducing basal rate and generally being in excellent control.
I am both an advanced level motorcyclist and car rider, having received further qualification and training from ROSPA and IAM, along with observed rides and drives from Police Officers etc. I consider myself safer than most, but I still would never cover up my diabetes, as in the UK it is asking for trouble. I also know that despite my further training and best intentions my diabetes puts me in a higher risk category than most.
Diabetics causing and having serious accidents as a result of lows is alot more common than many think.
There is often the suggestion that, "I haven't had an accident in 50 years of driving" e.g. I must be a safe and risk free driver. The reality is that this can be little more than luck and it only needs to happen once for lives to be changed.
Well I doubt major organs would be of any use.. However I know of a diabetic of over 30 years here in the UK who passed away and was able to donate, skin tissue, corneas etc.
So I believe there are some bits of us sugar cubes that can still be of use after we go ha.
Sorry to hear that John :(
My thoughts are with you..
Like!
I've had Type 1 for many years and used to answer this question truthfully (I lived in Ohio). But after carrying the required paperwork to my doctor for several years, he finally decided it served no purpose (I'm very well controlled) and apparently answered that I had been cured because they issued a regular license and never asked me about it again! Since then, in moving to another state, I decided not to say anything. Especially since I have gone on the pump and test every time I drive somewhere.
In my province , BC.Canada .. here a link: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/osmv/shareddocs/factsheet-diabetics1-4.pdf " Under the Motor Vehicle Act, the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles has the responsibility for determining the fitness to drive of people who hold or are applying for a British Columbia driver’s licence. Drivers whohave a medical condition that has the potential to affect their fitness to drive may be required to have their doctor complete a Driver’s Medical Examination Report(DMER). This report will provide the Superintendent with the information needed to decide whether someone is fit and able to drive safely. The form is mailed to the driver from the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. This fact sheet outlines the procedures the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (OSMV) follows to collect information about the severity, progression,treatment or effects of diabetes with respect to a person’s fitness to drive. In many cases, diabetes does not have an impact on an individual’s ability to drive.Because diabetes affects people differently, the information the OSMV requests allows an assessment to be carried out on an individual basis" .I have qualified for the 5 year drivers licence , due in 2013
I have disclosed since I was diagnosed in 1983 .
In WI the question is something like 'Have you lost consciousness due to one of the following conditions in the past 6 months?' with a list of things, including diabetes. I can safely say no. There are no other health questions, so at this time the DMV doesn't know...
Thanks, that's helpful.