Question
WASHINGTON -- A recent government report recommends allowing some insulin-treated diabetics to drive commercial vehicles.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found that diabetes "and its adverse effects can be successfully controlled and monitored" and that diabetic commercial drivers can "perform in an acceptably safe manner."
FMCSA: Allow some insulin-treated truckers to driver.
******************************
United We Stand
Answer
and well past due.
It is folly to allow those on oral meds to drive, and not htose on insulin.
1. The chance for an altered level of consciousness is higher (per person) in oral meds than on insulin.
2. Hopefully, in the end, this will allow drivers and their Physicians to chose the treatment that best suits their illness, rather than the treatment that lets them continue to work.
Answer
Sorry to disagree, but personally drivers who use insulin are limited to intrastate trucking and as such have better control over their rest and diet.
OTR drivers have raised stress levels, have limited access to places that promote healthy eating, and suffer from irregular sleep patterns.
While some drivers may be able to fulfill the requirements of their physicans to control their diabeties I don't think everyone on insulin will.
This program will be a one on one basis just as the moncular vision drivers are approved on a one for one basis. So don't expect a flood of drivers to be approved for the program.
Keep the faith.
Mike
Answer
Hell If they let me drive with a bad heart taking four pills.they should let a dieabetic drive.
Answer
with you Glory. With todays modern medicine you can take the insulin pill and have you level checked everyday and everyone keeps talking about the food It is very easy to keep on a decent diet when over the road if you just take a few extra minutes to order off the menu and stay away from the barfey. Hell the doctors just told me I can never drive again this week because I have a shoulder injury that is never gonna get better. And I have full range of motion but no feeling in it.
Answer
If they are going to allow a select few to drive as insulin dependent diabetics that they do their homework when making the decision.
I would hope that they ask for medical records that indicate that the driver has been compliant and well controlled for at least a year, more would be better.
Many diabetics are notoriously non-compliant. Very often the thinking is: "I'll just eat whatever I want to and just take more medicine to make up for it" This is SOOOOOOO dangerous!
How do I know??? My brother does it all the time!
And his sugar is NEVER under control.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
Visit us at Visit us at