Weighing My Options

So here is my situation. About 10 years ago I had a job in electronics that I traveled all the time. Loved it. Longest I was gone was 4 weeks I think. I decided that I wanted to switch careers and drive a truck. So I paid for school and got my CDL. Found out I have diabetes and can't pass the DOT physical. I ended up getting a Govt Job that is Intrastate DOT exempt. It pays decent little less than 70k with great benefits but I miss traveling. I started exercising and losing weight in hopes of passing the physical. So my question do you long term drivers love being on the road as much as when you started? Are you able to maintain fitness while driving the truck? I don't want to put on a ton of weight. And be kicked off the truck. I thought maybe I could bring exercise bands and one of those bikes where you sit on the bunk and pedal? I've seen some fit trucker videos but I don't know if it's realistic. I'm hoping to exercise every other day. Also my worst fear is forced teams. Does that happen often? I enjoy lots of solitude. If they tried to force it on me I'd hop out of the truck and hitchhike home. Oh and one last question. Does management ever inspect the inside of the truck to make sure you haven't altered the truck? I'd probably immediately install an inverter and sound system. I heard some companies don't allow inverters?

Would metformin and maybe a GLP-1 agonist or SGLT2 inhibitor get your diabetes controlled enough to qualify? What part of diabetes disqualified you? Is it using insulin or just at a certain a1c/fasting glucose they say "disqualified?"

As a tanker driver I use my hoses if they're clean and buckets with fittings in them and do some basic exercises. I use fitness rooms at our operating centers if I'm at one and occasionally Uber to a planet fitness.

So here is my situation. About 10 years ago I had a job in electronics that I traveled all the time. Loved it. Longest I was gone was 4 weeks I think. I decided that I wanted to switch careers and drive a truck. So I paid for school and got my CDL. Found out I have diabetes and can't pass the DOT physical. I ended up getting a Govt Job that is Intrastate DOT exempt. It pays decent little less than 70k with great benefits but I miss traveling. I started exercising and losing weight in hopes of passing the physical. So my question do you long term drivers love being on the road as much as when you started? Are you able to maintain fitness while driving the truck? I don't want to put on a ton of weight. And be kicked off the truck. I thought maybe I could bring exercise bands and one of those bikes where you sit on the bunk and pedal? I've seen some fit trucker videos but I don't know if it's realistic. I'm hoping to exercise every other day. Also my worst fear is forced teams. Does that happen often? I enjoy lots of solitude. If they tried to force it on me I'd hop out of the truck and hitchhike home. Oh and one last question. Does management ever inspect the inside of the truck to make sure you haven't altered the truck? I'd probably immediately install an inverter and sound system. I heard some companies don't allow inverters?

Would metformin and maybe a GLP-1 agonist or SGLT2 inhibitor get your diabetes controlled enough to qualify? What part of diabetes disqualified you? Is it using insulin or just at a certain a1c/fasting glucose they say "disqualified?"

As a tanker driver I use my hoses if they're clean and buckets with fittings in them and do some basic exercises. I use fitness rooms at our operating centers if I'm at one and occasionally Uber to a planet fitness.

So here is my situation. About 10 years ago I had a job in electronics that I traveled all the time. Loved it. Longest I was gone was 4 weeks I think. I decided that I wanted to switch careers and drive a truck. So I paid for school and got my CDL. Found out I have diabetes and can't pass the DOT physical. I ended up getting a Govt Job that is Intrastate DOT exempt. It pays decent little less than 70k with great benefits but I miss traveling. I started exercising and losing weight in hopes of passing the physical. So my question do you long term drivers love being on the road as much as when you started? Are you able to maintain fitness while driving the truck? I don't want to put on a ton of weight. And be kicked off the truck. I thought maybe I could bring exercise bands and one of those bikes where you sit on the bunk and pedal? I've seen some fit trucker videos but I don't know if it's realistic. I'm hoping to exercise every other day. Also my worst fear is forced teams. Does that happen often? I enjoy lots of solitude. If they tried to force it on me I'd hop out of the truck and hitchhike home. Oh and one last question. Does management ever inspect the inside of the truck to make sure you haven't altered the truck? I'd probably immediately install an inverter and sound system. I heard some companies don't allow inverters?

I was over a 10% A1c which is an automatic disqualifier. I went to the Dr and was put on insulin. I finally am to the point I don't need it anymore just metformin. So I'm pretty sure I can pass the physical without issue. I just need to be able to maintain my current workout and healthy diet when I'm on the road. If I start eating greasy truck stop food and not exercising I'll put on weight and it'll be game over for me being able to drive interstate.

Given you're not scared of injecting, and assuming they're not disqualification meds, ask your doc about liraglutide, semaglutide and related meds. They crush your appetite and would probably help with the eating.

You'd still want to develop and maintain healthy eating habits on the road and some level of activity. I carry shelled pistachios, a 10lb bag of whey protein, powdered oats, fish oil and a few other relatively healthy snacks with me on the road.

Would metformin and maybe a GLP-1 agonist or SGLT2 inhibitor get your diabetes controlled enough to qualify? What part of diabetes disqualified you? Is it using insulin or just at a certain a1c/fasting glucose they say "disqualified?"

As a tanker driver I use my hoses if they're clean and buckets with fittings in them and do some basic exercises. I use fitness rooms at our operating centers if I'm at one and occasionally Uber to a planet fitness.

So here is my situation. About 10 years ago I had a job in electronics that I traveled all the time. Loved it. Longest I was gone was 4 weeks I think. I decided that I wanted to switch careers and drive a truck. So I paid for school and got my CDL. Found out I have diabetes and can't pass the DOT physical. I ended up getting a Govt Job that is Intrastate DOT exempt. It pays decent little less than 70k with great benefits but I miss traveling. I started exercising and losing weight in hopes of passing the physical. So my question do you long term drivers love being on the road as much as when you started? Are you able to maintain fitness while driving the truck? I don't want to put on a ton of weight. And be kicked off the truck. I thought maybe I could bring exercise bands and one of those bikes where you sit on the bunk and pedal? I've seen some fit trucker videos but I don't know if it's realistic. I'm hoping to exercise every other day. Also my worst fear is forced teams. Does that happen often? I enjoy lots of solitude. If they tried to force it on me I'd hop out of the truck and hitchhike home. Oh and one last question. Does management ever inspect the inside of the truck to make sure you haven't altered the truck? I'd probably immediately install an inverter and sound system. I heard some companies don't allow inverters?

I was over a 10% A1c which is an automatic disqualifier. I went to the Dr and was put on insulin. I finally am to the point I don't need it anymore just metformin. So I'm pretty sure I can pass the physical without issue. I just need to be able to maintain my current workout and healthy diet when I'm on the road. If I start eating greasy truck stop food and not exercising I'll put on weight and it'll be game over for me being able to drive interstate.

Thanks, you know a lot about diabetes meds. I see my doctor this month. I'll run these by him.

One benefit to living in Mexico is you don't need to kiss a doctor's butt for regular medicines. Narcotics/addictive substances and antibiotics are the only things that need an Rx.

Honestly don't understand the US system after living there. We can buy cars and trucks that go over 100mph, eat refined sugar, drink or smoke(nicotine) ourselves to death and buy guns but god forbid I do some research and buy my own bloof pressure meds or boner pills.

Thanks, you know a lot about diabetes meds. I see my doctor this month. I'll run these by him.

There are plenty of type 1 db drivers. Some on this forum.

I'm hypoglycemic so have to watch diet closely as well. With a high protein, 1 to 1.5 grams of protein to 1 lbs of bodyweight, a bodyweight workout using the armrests for dips, pikes, diamond push-ups, coupled with kneeling pull-ups from the top bunk, declined push-ups from the bed down and utilizing the bags of chains for squats, curls and lat pulls, I've been able to consistently put on Lean muscle and reduce stubborn fat. I lift for progressive failure. I'll never be huge, but will definitely stay trim and lean with great core strength while putting on some size.

I alternate my workouts with a half hour of brisk walking on rest days. No hard-core cardio as it isn't needed for my body type and metabolism.

Absolutely no soda, no fast food, rarely eat out. Water only. I have a bit more latitude on fat, but even then, I keep it light. Organic clean protein.

There are plenty of type 1 db drivers. Some on this forum.

I'm hypoglycemic so have to watch diet closely as well. With a high protein, 1 to 1.5 grams of protein to 1 lbs of bodyweight, a bodyweight workout using the armrests for dips, pikes, diamond push-ups, coupled with kneeling pull-ups from the top bunk, declined push-ups from the bed down and utilizing the bags of chains for squats, curls and lat pulls, I've been able to consistently put on Lean muscle and reduce stubborn fat. I lift for progressive failure. I'll never be huge, but will definitely stay trim and lean with great core strength while putting on some size.

I alternate my workouts with a half hour of brisk walking on rest days. No hard-core cardio as it isn't needed for my body type and metabolism.

Absolutely no soda, no fast food, rarely eat out. Water only. I have a bit more latitude on fat, but even then, I keep it light. Organic clean protein.

Thanks, with the good responses I'm pretty confident now it's possible to stay fit while on the road. I go take a pre A1C the 30th this month. If that goes well. Below 8% I'm going to take my actual physical.

Another thing to look at is intermittent fasting and/or keto to keep your a1c and weight down. I want to say I've seen Brett post some about it as well.

There are plenty of type 1 db drivers. Some on this forum.

I'm hypoglycemic so have to watch diet closely as well. With a high protein, 1 to 1.5 grams of protein to 1 lbs of bodyweight, a bodyweight workout using the armrests for dips, pikes, diamond push-ups, coupled with kneeling pull-ups from the top bunk, declined push-ups from the bed down and utilizing the bags of chains for squats, curls and lat pulls, I've been able to consistently put on Lean muscle and reduce stubborn fat. I lift for progressive failure. I'll never be huge, but will definitely stay trim and lean with great core strength while putting on some size.

I alternate my workouts with a half hour of brisk walking on rest days. No hard-core cardio as it isn't needed for my body type and metabolism.

Absolutely no soda, no fast food, rarely eat out. Water only. I have a bit more latitude on fat, but even then, I keep it light. Organic clean protein.

Thanks, with the good responses I'm pretty confident now it's possible to stay fit while on the road. I go take a pre A1C the 30th this month. If that goes well. Below 8% I'm going to take my actual physical.