Driving and type 2 diabetes

Any patient with type 2 diabetes who applies for or holds a driver’s licence must inform their driving licence authority of their condition and have a regular medical review by their treating clinician. The frequency of review varies according to their treatment regimen, risk of hypoglycaemia and whether they hold a licence to drive a private or commercial vehicle. Laws vary in different states and territories of Australia; however, in most cases annual review by a treating specialist is required. For further information, see the Austroads website.

For patients with type 2 diabetes, ability to drive can be affected by acute episodes of hypoglycaemia (especially for patients with hypoglycaemia unawareness), or chronic complications of diabetes such as visual loss, peripheral neuropathy or cardiovascular disease.

Patients must be educated about the risks of hypoglycaemia and its potential effects on driving, especially for patients using insulin or who are taking a sulfonylurea. These patients should follow advice for patients with type 1 diabetes who are driving (see Driving and type 1 diabetes). A patient booklet about diabetes and driving is available from the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) website.