Diabetic Drivers

I have type 2 diabetes. Up until recently, I let my eating habits get away from me. I figured I was OK, because I was still losing weight. I was wrong!

While visiting my PCP today, he informed me that he wants to put me on a Once a day insulin (Humalog) regimen to bring my averages down. I informed him of my plans to drive, and he mentioned applying for the waiver. Upon reading the guidelines a bazillion times, I have come to the conclusion that the waiver is a giant FUBAR of a catch 22.

My doc is looking into Jenuvia (pill), as an alternative to the insulin, but my insurance sucks, and may not cover it. In which case I will be happy to pay out of pocket. But meanwhile I get to stick myself for a month.

When it is time for my DOT physical, will my temporary use of insulin trigger the need for the waiver?

**note** My A1C is still within the guidelines, and my daily readings are too.

Oops, I meant to put this in the General Category. DOH!!!

Yes, your temporary use will have a bearing on the DOT physical. You will need to list it as a drug taken in the last year. Make sure you go to the physical with a note from your doctor stating you are no longer taking the insulin and controlling your diabetes with diet and oral medication.

I am currently going through the long nightmare of a waiver myself.

Yes, your temporary use will have a bearing on the DOT physical. You will need to list it as a drug taken in the last year. Make sure you go to the physical with a note from your doctor stating you are no longer taking the insulin and controlling your diabetes with diet and oral medication.

I am currently going through the long nightmare of a waiver myself.

Well, the good news, is my insurance covers Jenuvia. The waiver "rules" are ridiculous, they make it almost impossible for an otherwise mostly healthy adult to drive. In a lot of ways, we are a lot healthier than the 350lb driver who can barely get into the cab, or fit behind the wheel.

Yes, your temporary use will have a bearing on the DOT physical. You will need to list it as a drug taken in the last year. Make sure you go to the physical with a note from your doctor stating you are no longer taking the insulin and controlling your diabetes with diet and oral medication.

I am currently going through the long nightmare of a waiver myself.

Well, the good news, is my insurance covers Jenuvia. The waiver "rules" are ridiculous, they make it almost impossible for an otherwise mostly healthy adult to drive. In a lot of ways, we are a lot healthier than the 350lb driver who can barely get into the cab, or fit behind the wheel.

I have Type I diabetes so I had to get the federal exemption. What a royal pain in the neck!!! Took me 8 months to get it by the time I got all my doctor's appointments and sent it in. It takes 6 months from the time they receive the paperwork til the time they issue you your exemption. That's not an exaggeration and the 6 months is standard procedure for everyone who applies. And to keep the exemption is just as much of a pain. I am otherwise perfectly healthy. Couldn't agree with you more about being less of a risk than the 300 lb driver. It's not impossible to hold onto the exemption, but get around it if you can.

As a type 2 diabetic myself, I will tell you that a Low carb eating plan is one of the quickest, and most effective, ways to not only lose some weight, but to get your glucose levels into line. It is really amazing how quickly you will see the numbers come once you switch over to that style of eating. There is tons of information about the correlation of low carb and diabetes on the net. Good luck getting that A1C back in line.

As a type 2 diabetic myself, I will tell you that a Low carb eating plan is one of the quickest, and most effective, ways to not only lose some weight, but to get your glucose levels into line. It is really amazing how quickly you will see the numbers come once you switch over to that style of eating. There is tons of information about the correlation of low carb and diabetes on the net. Good luck getting that A1C back in line.

I agree, I just got lazy when I moved from Michigan, to Iowa. Since I have moved here to South Carolina, I have been more active, and my diet has improved. I used to ride my bike 10 to 15 miles a day, often times, more. but my part of Michigan is flatter than flat,the biggest hills being the overpasses over I75, or US10. In Iowa, I let the hills intimidate me, and I got lazy, and my diet went bad. Now that I am here in South Carolina, yes, there are hills, but there is a lot of flat, too. Plus, with my new found goals, and plans, I want to be in the best shape I can be. I will have to be more vigilant, because of my diabetes, but I thing that it's a good thing. My belly is slowly disappearing again, I don't want it to make a reappearance once I am driving. I plan on taking my bike with me, too.