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Saturday 20 August 2011

Million drivers face losing licence under EU diabetes diktat !

Up to one million people with diabetes could lose their driving licences because of harsh new European rules classifying them as unfit to drive. Experts claim the ‘unnecessarily strict’ changes will affect hundreds of thousands who have been driving for decades without problems.


In fact some diabetics have found the DVLA is already using the new interpretation to ban them from the roads. Simon O’Neill, of Diabetes UK, said the new DVLA definitions of ‘severe’ and ‘recurrent’ hypoglycaemia threatened a blanket ban for many.

Up until now, severe hypos were defined as episodes where another person was needed to administer carbohydrate or take other actions during waking hours to assist the diabetic.

The new definition used by the DVLA also includes hypoglycaemia when the individual is asleep.

Mr O’Neill said the EC Directive itself does not specify nocturnal hypoglycaemia, yet the DVLA has chosen to include it in assessing fitness to drive.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2028152/Million-drivers-face-losing-licence-EU-diabetes-diktat.html

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

As if anyone needs it, another good reason to keep your blood sugars in check T1 OR T2 or anywhere in between.

Anonymous said...

I've been a T2 for for over 3 years and have never had a hypo or anthing remotely resembling one. The facts are unless you are on certain hypo inducing medication or have another condition that can cause low BG the likelyhood of having a debilitating hypo is virtally nil.

Graham

Anonymous said...

I think its so unfair...my partner is a type 1 diabetic on insulin, and he needs his driving licence for his job, if he looses his licence, he will also lose his job and probably our house as well, but don't think they've considered how this will affect those on insulin about there livliehood!!