Employment and driving

Driving and employment issues should be considered within diabetes care.

Employment

Employment is not usually a problem for people who have diabetes, however there are safety aspects to be considered which may occur with hypoglycaemia.

Until recently, restrictions were in place on people with insulin-treated diabetes in certain areas of employment, including the fire service and police force, jobs based offshore (eg on oil rigs or aboard cruise liners), and working at heights.

Since October 2004, it is against the law in the UK for any employer (apart from the armed forces) of any size to discriminate against a person with diabetes because of their condition. Everyone should be assessed on their own merits and should not be subjected to blanket bans. Blanket bans have now been lifted in the emergency services for insulin.

Recruitment and retention of people with diabetes in the police, fire and ambulance services should now be subject to individual medical assessment. However there are still restrictions in place by some NHS ambulance trusts on people who wish to be ambulance drivers, and for jobs involving driving large goods vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles.

Driving

People who treat their diabetes with insulin must by law inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) as soon as possible after diagnosis. People who have diabetes that is treated with tablets as well as another relevant condition or complication, must also by law inform the DVLA.

For details see:

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Information for drivers with diabetes treated by non insulin medication, diet or both (PDF 165.44KB) [see how to access PDF files].

A person who has had diabetes for some time and is applying for a licence, perhaps for the first time, should inform the DVLA.

If individuals treat their diabetes with diet alone, or with diet and tablets and they do not have any complications the DVLA does not need to be informed.

The Directgov website has organised its information about driving and diabetes into the following categories:

In October 2011 the regulations for diabetes treated with insulin and bus, coach and lorry driving (group 2) are due to change. There are details on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency website at Changes to the standards for drivers with diabetes mellitus.

See also information on the Diabetes UK website about this at Changes to driving regulations to be brought forward, and also recent developments at New action over EU rules on driving and diabetyes welcomed.