Driving and diabetes
If you have diabetes there are some important facts that you need to know about driving.
- You need to notify Transport Vic that you have diabetes and require insulin or medication to manage it.
- You need to carry hypoglycaemia (hypo) treatment with you all the time if you are on insulin or medication that can potentially cause hypos.
- You need to be aware of all new and existing Victorian road rules.
- Please talk with your diabetes health professionals annually about driving.
For detailed information visit the Transport Vic.
About driving and diabetes
Driving is a complex task involving perception and appropriate judgement which can be affected by:
- Hypoglycaemia (low glucose level)
- Hyperglycaemia (high glucose level)
- Impaired vision from retinopathy or associated with high and low glucose levels
- Numb feet or hands (neuropathy)
- Anything that can distract the driver.
Hypoglycaemia while driving
To be safe while driving, only drive above 5.mmol/L. When you use insulin and/or take some diabetes medications (sulphonylureas) you may be at increased risk of hypoglycaemia. Hypos occur when a person’s glucose level falls below 4.0 mmol/L. Hypos can impair a person’s ability to drive. People with diabetes describe having a hypo as feeling shaky, sweating, dizziness, a racing heart, feeling hungry, irritable or not being able to think clearly.
However, some people may have hypos without any symptoms or warning signs. This is called impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH). When driving, this can be dangerous as the person may not realise their concentration is affected and their reaction time is slower. They may also lose consciousness without warning. A glucose level that is less than 4 mmol/L is hypoglycaemia, even if you don’t have symptoms.
If you have had a severe hypo (become unconscious or unable to treat a hypo yourself) do not drive until you have discussed this with your diabetes healthcare team and been cleared to drive again.
Safe Driving Tips
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If you take insulin or medications that can cause hypoglycaemia (hypo):
- Check your glucose level before driving.
- Only drive if your glucose level is higher than 5 mmol/L.
- Have your glucose meter, hypo treatment (e.g. jellybeans) and carbohydrate snacks with you at all times, even on short trips.
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If you have a hypo while driving, pull over safely and turn off the ignition. Then:
- Check your glucose level to confirm the level.
- If the level is less than 5mmol/L, this is considered unsafe for driving.
- Immediately treat the hypo with 15 grams of quick-acting carbohydrate.
- Wait 15 minutes and check your glucose level again.
- Once your glucose level is above 5 mmol/L you may need to eat 15 grams of a longer acting carbohydrate.
You can find more information about hypos here.
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On long trips, plan regular stops for glucose checking and snack breaks.
- If you can, share the driving with someone else.
- Some drivers with diabetes choose to wear identification that states their name, doctor and diabetes treatment.
- If you think you have hypo unawareness, speak to your doctor or diabetes educator to take steps to regain your hypo awareness.
You can read more on impaired awareness of hypos here.
Glucose sensing devices
Some people with diabetes may choose to wear a CGM device to monitor their glucose levels. These devices need a reader which displays the glucose levels. This reader can be a stand-alone device provided by the company, a smart phone app on its own or linked to a smart watch or an insulin pump.
A CGM device will provide you not only with a current glucose level but also a trend arrow. The trend arrow shows you the direction your glucose is heading and how quickly it is changing. This can be especially helpful in predicting and preventing hypoglycaemia. If you use a CGM, it is important to check your glucose level and your trend arrow before you drive. Your glucose level needs to be higher than 5mmol/L and the trend arrow needs to be stable or flat and not pointing downwards.
More info about CGM here: https://www.diabetesvic.org.au/the-top-features-of-continuous-glucose-monitors-explained/
CGM devices can give you greater insight and reduce the need for finger pricking, but it is important to remember that the use of CGM and their readers are also subject to rules and regulations when in use while driving.
As of 31 March 2023, the use of a mobile phone or reader while driving is a traffic offence. Driving is classified as being in the car with the ignition on. Using a glucose sensing device while stopped in traffic or at traffic lights is also prohibited.
Read more here.
Many CGM device smart phone apps can connect to voice activation (eg. Siri) for hands-free glucose level checking. These may also be able to connect with in-car audio systems for hands-free glucose checking. Check your system specifications to see if this might be an option for you and your CGM system. If you are in any doubt about your glucose levels, the safe – and legal – way to double-check is to pull over safely, stop the car, turn the ignition off and then check using a fingerprick.
| As of 31 March 2023, the use of a mobile phone or reader while driving is a traffic offence. Driving is classified as being in the car with the ignition on. Using a glucose sensing device while stopped in traffic is prohibited. Read more here. |
Many CGM device smart phone apps can connect to voice activation (eg. Siri) for hands-free glucose level checking. These may also be able to connect with in-car audio systems for hands-free glucose checking. Check your system specifications to see if this might be an option for you and your CGM system. If you are in any doubt about your glucose levels, the safe – and legal – way to double-check is to pull over safely, stop the car, turn the ignition off and then check using a fingerprick.
Get notified!
If you have an email address you can now set up your personal myVicRoads account. You will then receive email and letter reminders of when your fitness to drive medical report/s are due.
Notifying VicRoads
How often you need to notify VicRoads may vary depending on the type of diabetes and changes in other medical conditions. If you have changes to your health that impact your ability to drive safely, you may be required to send in medical reports more often.
| Diabetes type | Private licence (car, motorcycle, light truck) |
Commercial licence (bus, truck) |
| Type 2 diabetes controlled by diet and exercise alone* | Driver not required to tell Transport Vic medical review team. |
Driver not required to tell Transport Vic medical review team. |
| Type 2 diabetes treated by glucose-lowering agents (not insulin) | Driver needs to tell Transport Vic on diagnosis or when they begin taking medications then every five years |
Driver needs to tell Transport Vic on diagnosis or when they begin taking medications then every year |
| Type 1 or type 2 diabetes controlled by insulin | Driver needs to tell Transport Vic on diagnosis then every two years | Driver needs to tell Transport Vic on diagnosis then every year |
* If you are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have long-standing type 2 diabetes, talk to your health professionals regularly about driving, your current individual fitness to drive and the need to report health condition (s) to Transport Vic Medical Review.
Applying for your learner’s permit
If you are applying for your learner’s permit and you have diabetes, you must notify VicRoads medical review team and provide a medical report before a permit can be issued. By notifying VicRoads you will be legally ok to drive. However failure to notify VicRoads medical review team is an offence and may result in your permit being suspended or cancelled.
Further information
The following resources contain more information on diabetes and driving:
- Medical conditions and driving information (Transport Victoria)
- New rules for portable devices (VicRoads)
- Assessing fitness to drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers (AustRoads)
- You can ask to talk with a medical case manager at Transport Vic or email this address.
- Diabetes and Driving (NDSS)
For further help please contact our advocacy staff by calling 1300 136 588 or email our advocacy team.