Driving and diabetes

louixo

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
If you don`t know about diabetes, there are two types Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 needs to be controlled by insulin injections. Type 2 can be controlled with pills and diet. However you can elect, or a doctor can prescribe insulin for a Type 2 diabetic to regulate blood sugar. You can also regulate your sugar by injecting other medicine in combination with pills. Depends on the individual.
Years ago in the 80`s I had to renew my medical card, and I went in for the requisite physical. The night before, I had been eating alot of sweets before going to bed. My sugar read high at the physical the next morning, and the doctor labeled me a Type 2 risk, and wrote an opinion into my physical that I could easily control my sugar with diet, as I was taking no pills at the time. The next physical I had two years later, i didn`t eat anything before seeing the doctor, and my physical didn`t need a rider, or a label, as my sugar was normal. The doctor just asked me if I was taking anything for sugar, and I said no, and that was that. Now it`s more than 20 years later, and my sugar levels tend to be higher, and I am now a bonified Type 2. I can control it easily and have for years, by diet, and or a combination of pills and diet. Recently, I went in for a physical,(not DOT) and was told, that it would be more efficient and more convenient to control my sugar levels with an injection, either a low dose of insulin, or another medicine, whose name I forgot, once a day, because of the lifestyle I live. I chose to do nothing, and stay with the pills, because I don`t want to have a problem to continue driving. Insulin can be used as a regulator WITHOUT the diabetic being insulin dependent. Or you can inject the other medicine, with a positive result, but no penalty for a driver. It seems ludicrous, but all the information I have been able to dig up suggests, that is the case. I think many people on the road today would be surprised to find out that, at any given time, they could be labeled a Type 2, depending what you had to eat or drink the night before your DOT physical, and the weight you are at the time of the examination. For me, so far, the limited diet choices you have when running the road ,can be compensated for with meds. Does anyone know anymore on this subject, and if so please reply.
 

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
It's a good idea to eat a healthy dinner around 20:00 the night before a physical and have nothing else prior to the physical other than limited water. A whole lot of candy is especially a bad idea.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Louixo: I'm curious about the medicine you can't remember the name of - it controls blood sugar, and isn't a red flag to the DOT, as insulin is?
And too, what is this about the "limited choices while running a load"? Because that sounds like an excuse to me.....(not that I haven't used it myself, a few times, lol).
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Louixo,
The thing is if you get a prescription of insulin, it can be considered type one by any DOT officer.

I have been offered a similar thing but refused, being asked and told several times by freinds in the DOT business that I want to aviod any injection of anything. I know what my problem is, and telling my doctors (fighting with them) that stress and diet are the contributing factors coupled with a slight weight problem, controlling it is not as hard as one thinks. But proven by the lower a1c level this time around, I have been fine so far.

I would not skip meals before any phsyical, I wouldn't skip any meals for that matter. also I would not drink any sodas (*unless you like soda water) and watch your sugar intake. I would also get a a1c test done every 6 months, whether the doc wants it or not.

Also while I am on the subject, eating is a problem for me. I can't have fruits and some veggies with sugar in them. A hersheys bar will not raise my blood sugar up as much as a peach or some strawberries. The first nutritionist told me to eat a lot of fresh fruit but when I ended up with my blood sugar at 450, I knew she was wrong. As for other things, I only found on salad dressing I can have, no BBQ or steak sauce, and a lot of processed condiments like Ketchup (High in Sugar).

Sorry if this may not make any sense, I have to deal with people asking for Directions in Arabic and it is hard to concentrate.
 

louixo

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Cheri..the medicine I was speaking of I can`t remember, but it started with an L, and is supposed to help produce insulin in a Type 2, and is injected. I don`t know what flags the interest of the DOT, as the only info I could find mentioned only insulin. The limited choices comment meant, that many times my choices of food venue were limited, because of the place I found myself located at a particular time of the day or night when it was time to pop the pill and/or get something to eat. And there were times that there was nothing around to eat, as well as times the only food available was junk food. It`s tough to stay on any diet when on the road, if you`re striving to eat only what`s allowed on the diet. And you`ve obviously been in a bad weather situation, where you were telling yourself, you`d grab a bite at the next truckstop or exit, only to get there hours later, starving.

Greg...that`s the point of the question. maybe i didn`t express it clearly. What is the DOT really saying? An injection of insulin is considered technically insulin dependent, but when it`s injected for a short period of time to regulate and then eliminated, it`s technically not a dependence issue. Example. if you`ve ever gone in for an operation, inpatient or out patient, and you`re sugar is above normal and at a certain level, what`s the first thing they give you? Insulin, to get your sugar down, so they can operate. When you leave the medical facility, no more insulin, and back to your regular treatment. In my case the doc is telling me that if I take the smallest dose of insulin or some other medicine, both injected, it will eliminate other meds, and be less hassle for me, and eliminate the spikes. Maybe i should see another quacker.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Yes, Louixo, I know what you mean - I've even been hungry enough to eat at Mickey Dee's :eek: But I really try not to, by keeping the larder & fridge stocked with stuff I can eat. I have popped a frozen Lean Cuisine in the microwave while fueling, and eaten it as I rolled on, because there wasn't time to stop again. If you rely on whatever you find enroute, you're going to have a tough time of it, for sure.
Greg: I cannot figure out what test you're referring to - what is it?

 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Greg...that`s the point of the question. maybe i didn`t express it clearly. What is the DOT really saying? An injection of insulin is considered technically insulin dependent, but when it`s injected for a short period of time to regulate and then eliminated, it`s technically not a dependence issue. Example. if you`ve ever gone in for an operation, inpatient or out patient, and you`re sugar is above normal and at a certain level, what`s the first thing they give you? Insulin, to get your sugar down, so they can operate. When you leave the medical facility, no more insulin, and back to your regular treatment. In my case the doc is telling me that if I take the smallest dose of insulin or some other medicine, both injected, it will eliminate other meds, and be less hassle for me, and eliminate the spikes. Maybe i should see another quacker.

Well I know I wasn't too clear, I am sitting in a war zone right now trying to protect my truck waiting for customs to clear me.

The thing is... it don't matter if it is for a short term, what I am told the DOT is not medical people, they are DOT people. The one example is an accident where the DOT will check the truck as part of it’s investigation. If you have insulin in the truck that is prescribed, then they will assume that you are type one. It will look like you lied when you went for your physical and they may not like that.

The point is, every one of the state people will have a say regardless and they will point to the federal regs, which says insulin dependent needs a waiver and take that as having a script for it means the same thing, you need to have a waiver.

BUT after re-reading you posts between the reloading of weapons, I think that first before you are consider bonified, you need to have an a1c test to determine the recent history of your sugar level. Even though your sugar is high when they take the readings, it may be something that is caused by external issues, stress, Panther, FedEx … you know the usual suspects.


Glycosylated hemoglobin test is the ‘technical’ name for it and it is a snapshot of your blood sugar history.

Oh and one last thing, there is another problem with using insulin if you don’t need to – your doctor may want to tell you what that is but if you don’t need it .. I think it would be wise not to use it.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Thanks Pjjjjjjjjjj, (I'll never get the right number of j's, you know) for the link - I'd never heard of the test, having been out of nursing for almost 10 years, and being nondiabetic myself. It sounds like a major improvement, but I bet it doesn't replace the daily blood glucose checks, huh?
Louixo - if you have a fridge & microwave in your truck, you have no excuse for eating an unhealthy diet, you know - really. (At least most of the time.) It's too important to leave your meals to chance and/or luck - and there are lots of food choices in the grocer's freezer that we never even dreamed of, a few years ago!
PS I can't imagine why anyone would take insulin if they didn't need to, but as Greg is being coy about the unanticipated side effects, I'm betting that it's something you guys should worry about, but that wouldn't bother me much. ;)
 

louixo

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
I have already declined taking the insulin as an elective treatment, so that settles the issue for me. I was trying to get info about what the DOT position is on injecting insulin as a treatment. If I wasn`t a trucker, it wouldn`t matter. I did a few searches, and they all turned up as the same definition by the DOT, which is "injecting, no matter what the dosage or frequency, equals insulin dependence, equals violating the rule, equals goodbye CDL. If anyone knows different, please post. I know about the possibility of a waiver, but that would be too lengthy a procedure to consider for me. Again, in my particular case it was a treatment option, but because of the legal complications of my chosen profession, what`s the point?
 

late4dinner

Seasoned Expediter
I have also been told by a Doctor that I am diabetic. I do not take meds. and controll my sugar by diet only. This may sound silly but every time I eat Chinese food my blood sugar drops. I don't know why but it does.
 
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Fkatz

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Hi all,

What you eat directly effects your sugar levels, When I was driving I was on oral medication, Metformin, Actos, prior to my Silent Heart Attack and bypass surgery from Conjestive Heart Failure in 2002 That is when I was told that I could not Drive anymore.

The problem with having diabeties is that the sugar levels vary so much due to the food that is eaten. The main problem is the Carbs that you take in

NO PASTA
FRIED FOODS
POTATO'S
NO SALT ( USE A SALT ALTERNATIVE)
ALL BUFFETS

By staying away from the above my sugar levels are below 140, which is where I want to be, the normal is below 120, it used to be 140.

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR SUGAR DOWN BY EATING 3 MEALS A DAY, BUT LIMITING YOUR INTAKE TO 2000 CALORIES AND AROUND 60 CARBS PER MEAL. IT WILL ALSO REDUCE YOUR WEIGHT.

There was an article on drivers taking Insulin. You might Find it on the OOIDA web site. ,
OH By the way, the Insulin that begins with an "L" is Lantus, and it is a slow working insuling, it 1 shot per day normally at night before you go to sleep
Frank
 
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iceroadtrucker

Veteran Expediter
Driver
If you don`t know about diabetes, there are two types Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 needs to be controlled by insulin injections. Type 2 can be controlled with pills and diet. However you can elect, or a doctor can prescribe insulin for a Type 2 diabetic to regulate blood sugar. You can also regulate your sugar by injecting other medicine in combination with pills. Depends on the individual.
Years ago in the 80`s I had to renew my medical card, and I went in for the requisite physical. The night before, I had been eating alot of sweets before going to bed. My sugar read high at the physical the next morning, and the doctor labeled me a Type 2 risk, and wrote an opinion into my physical that I could easily control my sugar with diet, as I was taking no pills at the time. The next physical I had two years later, i didn`t eat anything before seeing the doctor, and my physical didn`t need a rider, or a label, as my sugar was normal. The doctor just asked me if I was taking anything for sugar, and I said no, and that was that. Now it`s more than 20 years later, and my sugar levels tend to be higher, and I am now a bonified Type 2. I can control it easily and have for years, by diet, and or a combination of pills and diet. Recently, I went in for a physical,(not DOT) and was told, that it would be more efficient and more convenient to control my sugar levels with an injection, either a low dose of insulin, or another medicine, whose name I forgot, once a day, because of the lifestyle I live. I chose to do nothing, and stay with the pills, because I don`t want to have a problem to continue driving. Insulin can be used as a regulator WITHOUT the diabetic being insulin dependent. Or you can inject the other medicine, with a positive result, but no penalty for a driver. It seems ludicrous, but all the information I have been able to dig up suggests, that is the case. I think many people on the road today would be surprised to find out that, at any given time, they could be labeled a Type 2, depending what you had to eat or drink the night before your DOT physical, and the weight you are at the time of the examination. For me, so far, the limited diet choices you have when running the road ,can be compensated for with meds. Does anyone know anymore on this subject, and if so please reply.[/quot

Good topic isnt Cave Man

Would yo care to elaborate on it.
 

aristotle

Veteran Expediter
Girth equals diabetes. Lose the weight, lose the diabetes. For most people, the onset of diabetes is a lifestyle choice. Quit eating like a horse, please. I cannot believe how most truckers take excellent care of their trucks, but fail to take care of themselves. Who would settle for a regimen of needles, shots, pills and continuously declining health over a lifestyle of healthy diet and exercise.
I have compassion for anyone with a genetic predisposition toward blood sugar problems not caused by excessive weight. But for those who are obese, you are slowly killing yourself with food. Stop making excuses and do something positive for your own best interest. Those who choose gluttony will reap a whirlwind of bad consequences. You will lose your career, then maybe a foot, and eventually your life. And 90% of diabetes is preventable through proper weight management. Come on, people. Just say "NO" to a 4,000 calorie per day diet.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Aristotle: even if your view were factually correct, (which it isn't), I believe you made your point in another post on healthy eating. The folks who are dealing with diabetes, and/or weight problems have enough to handle without being beat up in public by a stranger. Appreciate your concern for everyone else's welfare, but if you haven't anything helpful to add, back off. :mad:
 

aristotle

Veteran Expediter
Cheri... you cannot softpedal the seriousness of diabetes. It is an epedimic in America. Too many folks are mollycoddled and patted on the head. Being frank with the afflicted is an act of kindness. There is time for most to turn it around if they choose to do so.
You're letting your judgment be clouded by personal animus again. When you don't like the message, you attack the messenger.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
I'm "attacking the messenger" because it's not your place to castigate adults here - particularly when you haven't the least idea of their circumstances, the 'how' and 'why' of their difficulties, nor what they're already doing to resolve them. (That's what they have doctors for). Even if it were your place, your method sucks, guy - when you take the attitude that you have, you're going to get a lot of resentment and resistance. You wanna be helpful, you need a better approach, is all I'm sayin.
 

aristotle

Veteran Expediter
Cheri... you are not the arbiter of good taste. And I will not submit to your sensitivity training. Let the others speak for themselves. I look forward to engaging them in a dialogue. Please go stalk someone else.
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
So when people say what YOU don't want to hear, they're 'stalking' you, huh? Well, I sure hope you have lots of free time to counsel all those who will no doubt be jumping at the chance to 'dialogue' with you......I'm done trying, myself.
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Cheri, Aristotle,

I got to tell you that there is something directly related to weight and diabetes but there are other issues that are missing that cause it.

I know a lot of people who did not weigh a lot and ended up type 1, simply losing weight made it worst.

In my case, I can’t lose weight as easily as one would think. My weight is caused by three things; one is stress and my body not releasing the fat because of the stress. Stress also has a lot to do with diabetes in other ways, sometimes triggering it when weight is not an issue. There is so many complex combinations that will cause a person to get a mired of diseases.

By the way Cheri, I wasn’t being Coy, I was in a war zone and could not think, still dealing with the effects of it.
 
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