Diabetes and driving
Victoria’s vision is to create a safe system of roads, laws, vehicles, drivers and behaviour that supports and improves the safe movement of our community. This includes supporting drivers to drive at any age so long as they're medically fit to do so.
Some medical conditions may affect the ability to drive safely. People with medical conditions are encouraged to speak to their doctor to understand their health condition and to discuss the potential impact on driving.
Drivers are required by law to notify Medical Review of any serious, permanent or long term illness, disability, medical condition or injury (or the effects of treatment for any of those things) that may affect their fitness to drive.
Each driver is reviewed individually by Medical Review to determine the outcome that is best for the safety of the individual and the community.
The purpose of this fact sheet is to explain how diabetes can affect your driving and your responsibilities as a driver.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that affects the body’s ability to maintain healthy levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. A hormone called insulin is required to convert glucose into energy.
In people with diabetes, the body stops producing or doesn’t produce enough, insulin to convert glucose into energy. This results in high blood glucose levels.
Diabetes can have serious impacts on a range of bodily functions, including vision, which is important for maintaining driving safety.
Regular eye examinations will help to monitor changes. Eye health practitioners can advise about minimising vision loss.
How is diabetes treated?
There are three types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and is managed by insulin injections during the day or an insulin pump.
- Type 2 diabetes can often be managed by diet and regular physical exercise. Medication and insulin may also be required.
- Gestational diabetes mellitus may occur during pregnancy and usually disappears after the birth of the baby. It can usually be managed by diet and regular physical exercise.
What are the risks of driving with diabetes?
The main concern about driving and diabetes is the potential for an unexpected severe hypoglycaemic event. This occurs when a person’s blood sugar level has dropped too low resulting in loss of consciousness or seizure.
If you have diabetes, you should always follow the advice of your health practitioner, including your individual circumstances and how you can best manage your diabetes when driving.
This includes considering your hypoglycaemic awareness and familiarising yourself with the warning signs of a drop in blood glucose. You should take appropriate preventative steps to help avoid a severe hypoglycemic event whilst driving.
For example, don't drive if your blood glucose is at or less than 5 mmol/L or if, while wearing a continuous or flash glucose monitor, the predicted glucose level is showing downward trends into the hyperglycemic range (measured when the vehicle is parked).
Your should discuss preventiative measures with your doctor, or diabetes health professional, such as measuring blood glucose before driving and planning ahead for long drives.
You should also have a management plan which aims to avoid a severe hypoglycaemic event if once you've developed awareness of symptoms of a mild hypoglycaemic event while driving, or when intending to drive.
What are my responsibilities as a driver?
If you're applying for or already hold a current learner permit or driver licence and have been diagnosed with diabetes, treated by glucose lowering agents and/or insulin, you're required by law to notify Medical Review. Failure to notify could also affect your insurance cover.
Please download and fill in the notification of diabetes to the medical review team form (PDF) .
Once completed email it to [email protected]. You can also fax it: 03 9854 2307.
If you prefer to post, please mail to (allowing up to two weeks for delivery):
Medical Review
GPO Box 2392
Melbourne Victoria 3001
Make sure you keep the original for your own record.
Do I have to notify you if my diabetes is managed by diet and exercise alone and I have no other medical conditions?
No. A driver with diabetes treated by diet and exercise alone may drive without licence restrictions and isn't required to notify us.
You should be reviewed by your doctor periodically regarding the progression of diabetes and talk to them if you have any concerns.
How will the medical review team assess my fitness to drive?
We determine your fitness to drive on a case by case basis in accordance with national medical standards. Medical advice and assessment outcomes are also considered.
To retain your driver licence you'll be asked to provide a medical report and you may be required to provide a report from a diabetes specialist (endocrinologist) and an eye specialist.
If you can show you can drive safely, but only under certain conditions, a conditional licence may be considered. A wide range of conditions are possible to maximise your safety and that of other road users.
Medical standards for commercial truck, taxi and bus licences are stricter than those for private licences.
What are the medical standards for diabetes and driving?
After initial notification, periodic reviews are generally
required as follows:
| Diabetes and control | Requirement for medical licensing review* | |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicles | Commercial vehicles | |
| Diabetes controlled by diet | No reports are required, however, must be monitored by your doctor | No reports are required, however, must be monitored by your doctor |
| Diabetes controlled by glucose lowering agents other than insulin | Every five years* | Every year |
| Insulin treated diabetes | Every two year* | Every year |
* The frequency of periodic reviews may vary depending on the type of diabetes and changes in other medical conditions.
Resources
Diabetes Victoria
Call: 1300 437 386
Email: [email protected]
National Diabetes Services Scheme
Call: 1800 637 700
Email: [email protected]
Provides information and support for people with diabetes.
Download a PDF of this page: diabetes and driving (PDF).
Contact Medical Review
Email: [email protected]
Call: (03) 8391 3226.
Fax: (03) 9854 2307
Mail: Medical Review
PO Box 2504
Kew VIC