Truck Drivers And Diabetes - The Complete Guide

What Truck Drivers Need To Know About Diabetes

• If you have insulin-treated Type 2 or insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetes mellitus, you can now operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle in interstate commerce without obtaining an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, effective November 19, 2018.
• ITDM individuals who plan to drive interstate will now be able to get a Medical Examiner's Certificate (MEC) that you must renew annually. An MEC is required for getting your CDL . People with diabetes who do not need insulin were not required to obtain an exemption, which is still the case.
• The new process will require the treating clinician to provide the certified Medical Examiner with an ITDM Assessment Form, MCSA-5870, showing that the prospective driver maintains a stable insulin regimen and proper control of their diabetes. The examiner then determines as they normally would for any other driver whether the individual will pass the DOT physical by meeting the FMCSA physical qualification standards in all necessary health areas.

Why is Diabetes An Important Issue For Truck Drivers?

Diabetes is a health condition affecting over 37 million Americans. Studies show that 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes. For truckers, these numbers are even higher. Truck drivers are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than most because they sit for long periods and are often limited to unhealthy food at truck stops.

Health risks aren't the only concern for truck drivers. Truck drivers have many regulations regarding insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM), and navigating all red tape and forms is an endeavor.

In this article, we break down the regulations as well as the prevalence of diabetes in the trucking industry, so drivers know the challenges they face.

The Prevalence Of Diabetes In The Trucking Industry

As convenient as it is to eat fast food at truck stops, it can take its toll and eventually warrant undesirable involvement by Uncle Sam. Health problems often result from choosing unhealthy food for the majority of meals. Trucking is also a position that involves sitting for 11 hours a day. The results can jeopardize your driving career and life. Therefore, it is essential to know the facts about diabetes and what you're up against from a health and regulations standpoint.

Diabetes is very prevalent in the United States. The combination of sedentary long hauls and easy access to unhealthy food makes truckers prime targets. This 2019 article shows that the rate of diabetes in truckers is 50% higher than in the general public. For this reason, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has instituted medical regulations and assessments for truck drivers to make sure they are healthy enough to operate large machinery.

A study by the National Institutes of Health shows that truck drivers who are severely obese (not diabetic) have a 47% to 63% higher crash rate than drivers with a Body Mass Index within the healthy range. In addition, other health conditions besides diabetes often force drivers out of the profession due to their inability to meet the physical requirements.

The poor safety rating and the possibility of getting diabetes make weight loss a safety issue for truckers and other drivers on the road.

Changes To The Rules And Regulations For Diabetes In The Trucking Industry

You must obtain your CDL and pass a DOT physical to operate a commercial motor vehicle. If you suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes, it may disqualify you from commercial driving.

You must take a DOT physical at least every 24 months and more often if you have certain medical conditions. Even if you didn't have diabetes when you started trucking, there is a chance you may hit some trouble down the road if there is an issue with your blood sugar.

Here is a timeline of diabetes regulations in the trucking industry over the decades:

• 1939 — a predecessor of the FMCSA recommended that prospective drivers be required to have glucose tested via urine, but people with diabetes were not yet indiscriminately banned from driving.
• 1970 — the FMCSA established that "a person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control" — a blanket ban on all who needed to use insulin, due to studies at the time indicating that drivers with diabetes were involved in more crashes than the general population.
• 1993-1994 — ITDM individuals could apply for a waiver in 1993, but that program ended the following year.
• 2000 — The FMCSA submitted a report to Congress concluding that it was feasible to establish a safe and practicable protocol by screening qualified ITDM commercial drivers, establishing operational requirements to ensure proper disease management by drivers, and monitoring safe driving behavior and proper disease management.
• 2003 — the Diabetes Exemption Program began, featuring the three-year rule.
• 2005 — the three-year rule was discarded, but the exemption program remained otherwise the same.
• 2015 — The FMCSA proposes to permit drivers with a stable, well-controlled ITDM to be qualified to operate a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce.
• Effective November 19, 2018 — the exemption program ends, at which time ITDM individuals can obtain a Medical Examiner's Certificate annually if physical fitness is deemed sound, the same as for other drivers, and the FMCSA Medical Examiner is provided with the ITDM Assessment Form by the treating clinician.

Tips To Help Prevent Diabetes

While diabetes may jeopardize your trucking career, it also threatens your life in general. Therefore, keeping diabetes at bay is an extra challenge for the truckers' lifestyle. Still, there are many ways for truckers to prevent diabetes. The two best ways to keep diabetes from affecting you are diet and exercise.

It is important to mention that there are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is most often caused by genetics and results in the body's inability to produce insulin naturally. Type 2 Diabetes is usually a direct result of lifestyle, including diet and exercise. It is possible to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes with proper lifestyle changes.

Diet

A proper diet is essential for truckers. Unfortunately, most truck stops and gas stations often have fast food and junk food, with very few healthy foods. These easily accessible meals play a direct role in the unhealthy habits of truckers.

According to 2014 research by the Transportation Research Board, long haul truck drivers in the U.S. have a significantly increased prevalence over the larger population of significant health risks and conditions across the board, including:

• obesity
• morbid obesity
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• cardiovascular risk factors
• smoking

Therefore, making healthy diet choices is imperative to help prevent diabetes as a trucker.

Exercise

Equally crucial to diet is exercise. It may seem challenging to get in a good workout while on the road, but the opportunity is always there. Even a 20-minute walk will help regulate blood sugar and improve cardiovascular health. Aiming for 30 minutes of physical activity each day will significantly reduce your risk of health conditions when combined with a healthy diet.

Tips For Controlling Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your main goal is to keep your blood sugar under control. Unfortunately, this can be difficult with poor food choices and a lack of exercise.

The following tips will have you manage diabetes on the road:

• Make sure to stock up on low-sugar snacks before a long haul. This makes healthy snacks easily accessible at any time during your drive.
• Make exercise a priority. Even 30 minutes of walking on your breaks and downtown help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
• Stay on top of doctor's appointments with your physician.
• Use the health checks at chain pharmacies like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, or Sams Club.

See also: additional advice on managing their diabetes

FAQs About Truck Driving And Diabetes

Receiving a diabetes diagnosis is often troubling on its own. If you are a truck driver, your livelihood could be at stake. Here are a few common questions about diabetes for truck drivers:

Can I Drive A Truck If I Have Diabetes?

Yes. You'll need to pass the medical examination to get your CDL. The medical examiner and your primary physician will discuss the severity of your condition and whether it will affect your ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely.

Is It Safe To Drive A Truck If I Have Diabetes?

Yes and no. Well-managed and treated diabetes won't negatively impact your ability to operate a CMV safely. However, the risk of hypoglycemia and loss of consciousness due to unhealthy blood sugar levels poses a severe risk for truckers and other drivers on the road. This is why the medical examiner and treating physician must decide on a case-by-case basis.

How Can I Stay Healthy As A Truck Driver?

Staying healthy as a truck driver requires some planning and self-control. Packing healthy foods for long hauls means less stopping at fast food places. You must take control of your health to prevent and manage diabetes and other health conditions.

Getting some daily exercise will also help you stay healthy as a truck driver.

Other Resource For Trucking And Diabetes

Are you looking for more information or advice on trucking with diabetes? There are many resources for this available online.

FMCSA Website

The FMCSA website has almost every resource you'll need, from applications to rules and regulations regarding diabetes and other medical conditions for trucks. This article on eliminating the Federal Diabetes Exemption Program is a great place to start.

Trucking Truth Forums

Another excellent place to seek advice is on the Trucking Truth forum. Due to the prevalence of diabetes in the trucking industry, many other drivers out there face the same issue.

See: Forum Conversations Tagged "Diabetes"

Mark L., for example, advised fellow trucker Heather regarding his concerns about diabetes:

"If [you have diabetes], LOW blood sugar is usually the larger concern. I don't know that an 8.1 A1C would cause a denial of a Federal Medical Certificate, but I don't think it will. My examiner simply does a urine "dip" test. If he doesn't detect sugar it is a non-issue. If he uses insulin, a high reading could affect the ability to get the required sign-off on the required form, but again, LOW is the larger concern. Best of luck to you both. My advice... Breathe! One step at a time. Freaking out does not help!"

Sometimes the best advice comes from other truckers in the field. So please post on the trucking forum and experience the support and advice from a friendly community of truck drivers who know what it takes to thrive in the trucking world.