Thread: Diabetes and driving

My Uncle is 83 and a type 2 diabetic - genetic not lifestyle - he does not require any medication and when his blood is tested it is always below 5.5.

Last Saturday at 5.30pm he had this done - the pic was taken on Monday when I visited him. An ulcer on the bottom of his foot got infected and was turning gangrenous and infected his foot and blood. He went into hospital at 2 in the afternoon and had the operation at 5. Just after this pic was taken he had angioplasty where a balloon was inserted in his arteries in his ankle to ensure blood flow to the foot to aid healing.

His ulcer developed and infection set in because of poor bloodflow in his legs caused by a combination of his age, diabetes and a lifestyle of sitting on a kitchen chair for long hours listening to the radio.

I think the pic helps to understand some of the ramifications of diabetes. I have had Type 2 much much longer than my uncle and do not suffer any of the side effects at this stage but I am 20 years younger - my 90 yo mother has had Type 2 longer than I have and still does not have any major symptoms and indeed she told me today the doctor is going to take her off insulin after nearly 25 years on insulin - so this all highlights that the disease and its symptoms progress at different rates in different people.

Definitely affects different people in different ways. My Hba1c tests were in the high nines to low teens at first (when first diagnosed in 2011). Since the heart attack and CABG I've lost 10 kgs, last couple of 3 monthly tests have averaged mid to high 5s. Doc is now weaning me off the tablets (Glicazade gone, Metformin down from three to two tablets daily).
Got my MC licence back, and the passenger endorsement, about 3 months after the heart attack.
Hopefully there's minimum damage from the diabetes, and I can get on with our somewhat delayed plans.

Originally Posted by garrycol

My Uncle is 83 and a type 2 diabetic - genetic not lifestyle - he does not require any medication and when his blood is tested it is always below 5.5.

Last Saturday at 5.30pm he had this done - the pic was taken on Monday when I visited him. An ulcer on the bottom of his foot got infected and was turning gangrenous and infected his foot and blood. He went into hospital at 2 in the afternoon and had the operation at 5. Just after this pic was taken he had angioplasty where a balloon was inserted in his arteries in his ankle to ensure blood flow to the foot to aid healing.

His ulcer developed and infection set in because of poor bloodflow in his legs caused by a combination of his age, diabetes and a lifestyle of sitting on a kitchen chair for long hours listening to the radio.

I think the pic helps to understand some of the ramifications of diabetes. I have had Type 2 much much longer than my uncle and do not suffer any of the side effects at this stage but I am 20 years younger - my 90 yo mother has had Type 2 longer than I have and still does not have any major symptoms and indeed she told me today the doctor is going to take her off insulin after nearly 25 years on insulin - so this all highlights that the disease and its symptoms progress at different rates in different people.

Thanks for sharing, this is a **** disease to have, yet people in the community are very blase about it, it is increasing in numbers through out the population. We have graphic warning labels on cigarettes, may be junk food packaging like maccas need to have pics like this on them, just to educate people about what could happen with bad food choices with this often preventable disease. If its hereditary then you don't have much of a choice, but if it's life style caused then people can avoid it .

Well, I did the right thing and got a diabetic eye test, got my doctor to fill out the form for the medical review saying I was safe to drive. Then today shock horror I receive a letter from Vic roads stating unless I provided an endo report by 30th of Aug then on the 13th Sept I need to land my licence in. I dismissed my previous endo due to his slackness. So now have to wait 6 months for an appointment for an endo, this is via the health system or privately it's about 3 months.
this does not fit in with Vic roads deadline.


I rang Vic roads and asked what the problem was and on the form my doc filled out there was a section where he put a cross in the wrong box by mistake, so now I need a letter on a letter head from GP to say it was filled out in error and forward that off to Vic roads and hopefully they cancel the request or possible give me a reason extension for an endo report if they still want one.
In hind sight it would have been better to be mute and not have told them.

I had the same (bullying...) letter from our mob over here, when my HbA1c crept above DoT's Rules & Regulations.
Same deal, had 3 months or less to find, visit, and get a Magic Letter from an Endo to assure them I would NOT have a 'hypo'.
As a Type 2 NOT on insulin, and metformin, this was never going to happen anytime soon...
Somehow managed, at much $$$... at which point I got Very Angry, at the demand, the mis-information and the Bullying.

So I did a heap of research, asked pointed questions to endo and GP... and the 'Experts', Diabetes Australia (who told me to change diet to lots of grains and carbs and 'minimal' fasts, especially saturated FATS.

shrt story is, found most of the 'official' guidelines were up the creek, went savagely Low (nearly zero...) Carbs and HIGH fat, especially butter, olive and coconut oil,

30 kg down, Aic down to 5.6 - from 14's.

I rest my case!

But here is one of the biggest problems... - the government and medicos who SHOULD be supporting and healing us, not giving advice that WILL keep us unwell.
Dr Gary Fettke silencing has shone a light on Medical Evangelism. | #isupportgary

When you have dieticians (UN-regulated by our government!) having a doctor charged with 'inappropriately reversing a patient's T2 Diabetes...' AND causing the Regulator to crucify said Surgeon... I think we have A Problem.


"Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under".
- H. L. Mencken

Just got back from doctor, he faxed a letter on his letter head back to Vic roads medical review saying the original form was filled in by him with a mistake, so will see if they accept it.
So I will have to wait another week to see what gives.

Wot Gnus ???

Originally Posted by superquag

Wot Gnus ???

Still waiting, I rang them to make sure they received it, holding my breath.