Relative has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He is given a course of tablets and strict diet to keep it under control. He has not suffered the usual symptoms but had been advised a blood test because he is obese. He was shocked to learn his blood sugar level is 10 which means he is diabetic. He was told matters will improve if he loses weight.
He has been told to notify the DVLA and his insurance company. Regarding DVLA does he fill a form from the post office or write them a letter?
Has anyone experienced the above? Did their motor insurance premium go up? Any restriction from DVLA?
thanks in advance
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See: www.dvla.gov.uk/medical.aspx . Diabetes is a serious issue for driving because hypoglycaemic episodes can be dangerous - at worst the diabetic can lose conciousness. However type 2 diabetics are less prone to this than sufferers of type 1. Nevertheless, the complications of diabetes - including type 2 - such as heart disease also have driving safety implications.
Coincidentally I attended a talk by the chief medical guy at the DVLA a fortnight ago. Diabetes is a big issue for them, but IIRC if you control your diabetes well enough they're happy. Revoking a licence only occurs in pretty extreme circumstances.
Re insurers, I can't comment. Chances are they won't be able to resist a premium increase...
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I have type 2;write to the DVLA,they will send a form which needs to be completed by your doctor.They then send you a letter which in my case says I am OK to drive but must inform them of any changes to my condition-I keep it in my license.Insurance?-I've told both the companies I use and both have said"no problem"-cover as normal-no extra charge-I don't get charged any extra for travel insurance or car hire.But you must inform all these people or your cover will be invalid.
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I should also add that the charity "Diabetes UK" has a list of recommended insurers should there be problems.
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My wife is diabetic Type 1, injects insulin and as it happens is a dialysis patient as well having lost her kidneys through diabetes. Horrible experience and your relative really doesn't want to go there.
Lecture over, sorry.
My wife's licence is renewable every three years, but i can't recall what happens at the renewal bit - i think a letter from her consultant is all that's required. Major task to get her to notify DVLA in the first place though.
The insurance is completely unaffected. As long as the DVLA were advised, Direct Line were happy.
HTH
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The insurance is completely unaffected.
Correct. As long as the medical condition is controlled, then an insurance company *shouldn't* discriminate against you.
The following may help:
tinyurl.com/yjatb2
tinyurl.com/yl6tfx
www.diabetes-healthnet.ac.uk/leaflets/driving.htm
This is the form I had to fill out when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
direct.gov.uk/assetRoot/10/03/78/39/10037839.pdf
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My father and father in law also have type 2 diabetes. The driving related concerns are hypoglycemic episodes, as mentioned, and also that diabetes may bring about a change in your eyesight - so regular eye tests are to be recommended.
Likewise, they had to notify their insurers, but I'm not aware there was any increase in premium. One place where it pays to read the small print is in the collision damage wavier if hiring a car, but again I'm not aware of any insurmountable difficulty.
BTW, the good news is that both father and FiL have no difficulty managing their diabetes so long as they stick to the diet and medication prescribed for them. A quick search along the shelves of the local healthfood shop turned up alternatives to their usual eats and treats (e.g. diabetic chocolate) which makes sticking to the diet much easier.
(In fact, the only difficulty either has encountered is getting travel insurance. Diabetes is considered a "pre-existing condition" which can increase the cost of travel insurance significantly. The way around this is to take out an annual travel insurance policy with their health insurance provider - both use the same company - who doesn't charge an extra premium as they consider that they've already addressed any extra risk under the health cover.)
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to their usual eats and treats (e.g. diabetic chocolate) which makes sticking to the diet much easier.
My doctor told me to avoid diabetic chocolate for two reasons.
1. It's more expensive than normal chocolate.
2. It has a side effect of being a laxitive.
My doctor went on to say that if you fancy a chocy bar then damn well have one, BUT have it in moderation and not part of your daily diet.
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I have Type 1 Diabetes. Been living with it for 11 years.
As far as I know it is illegal to discriminate against me , providing everything is acceptably under control.
I honestly declared everything ,whenever applying for vehicle insurances. The premiums are not loaded as far as I can tell. Diabetes UK campaigned well to that effect. My driving licence is renewd FOC every three years after just, so far , filling in a questionnaire.
The problem for me is travel insurance. Only some companies will cover pre existing conditions.
Some others will happily cover you for everything except pre existing conditions. Beware.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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It used to be the case (say in the early '90s) that your motoring insurance premium was loaded when you told them about your diabetes - not any more, thanks to anti-discriminatory legislation. However, travel insurance companies seem to get round this, and in some cases charge what they like.
S6 1SW
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Incidentally the 3 year renewal requiring a letter from the diabetes specialist only applies when/if the patient needs insulin therapy. If the diabetes is controlled by diet alone, or diet and oral hypoglycaemics then its just up to the GP to inform of changes.
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thanks for the replies. Will pass on the details.
One thing that put him off to put it mildly is the fact that once you are diagnosed as a diabetic you are a diabetic. By going on a diet and taking tablets to control it and, in his case he is obese, by losing weight he could bring his sugar level down. If his sugar level comes down to ''normal'' he will still be classed as a diabetic.
once again thanks
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Gromit's quite right about travel insurance as i found out to my not insubstantial cost: "Oh no sir, your wife's illness was a result of her diabetes and we don't cover that etc etc..."
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With type 2,I have no trouble at all with travel insurance;I did mention in an earlier post that the charity "Diabetes UK" has a list of insurers who know all about diabetes and it's effects.
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does he need to inform the DVLA and insurance at the same time or wait for DVLA response?
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does he need to inform the DVLA and insurance at the same time or wait for DVLA response?
Regardless of how the diabetes is controlled, you have to tell the insurance company by law.
You only have to inform the DVLA if the diabetes is tablet or insulin controlled, and not by diet alone.
Start the ball rolling with the insurance company; then get your relative to fill in the appropriate form (link above) and send off to the DVLA as his diabetes is tablet controlled. They in turn will contact his doctor, and if satisfied there is no risk they will send a letter of confirmation back saying that he can continue driving (or words to that effect)
From the link I posted further up ( www.diabetes-healthnet.ac.uk/leaflets/driving.htm )
Who do I need to inform?
No matter how your diabetes is treated, you must by law inform your insurance company that you have diabetes.
If your diabetes is treated with Insulin or tablets, you must inform the DVLA.
If your diabetes is treated with tablets or Insulin and you are applying for a driving licence for the first time, you also must inform the DVLA.
You must inform the DVLA if any diabetes complications develop that may affect your ability to drive safely.
If you fail to inform the DVLA or your insurance company then your driving insurance will be invalid.
You do not need to tell the DVLA if you are treated by diet alone. However, if you start to take tablets, or change from tablets to insulin treatment, then they must be informed.
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thanks dynamic dave
we emailed DVLA last night and rang them this morning as a back up. They will send a letter stating that there is no restriction since he is on tablets and a diet.
rang insurance company. they put a note on the file and there is no increase in premium as long as DVLA has imposed no restrictions
thanks again for the info
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Confusing when a 13 yo question revives. I note my contribution, which is still true for me. Just had my licence renewed for another 3 years.
Edited by Glaikit Wee Scunner {P} on 31/10/2019 at 11:06
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Glad you're flourishing, GWS. The thread was revived by what in your part of the world I believe is called a wazzock, trying to get free advertising - so I have hidden its post.
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Glad you're flourishing, GWS. The thread was revived by what in your part of the world I believe is called a wazzock, trying to get free advertising - so I have hidden its post.
There does seem to have been a spate of prehistoric threads coming back to life. So wazzock is not in the swear filter, I wonder if dipstick, divvy and tosspot are?
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