Table of Contents
Mim is currently a student working on her PhD in social work. In 2012, at the age of 36, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and fell into a coma requiring emergency hospital treatment. At the time of diagnosis, she felt overwhelmed by everything she needed to know right away to manage Type 1.
Mim suffered severe hypotension last year and as a result her driving license was unfairly revoked. We helped her get it back. Since then, she has worked hard to keep her blood sugar levels normal in order to continue driving.
Mim Cartwright
42 years old
I have had type 1 diabetes for almost 7 years.
“Then there are no days off. Every time you eat, you have to think carefully about how it will affect your blood sugar levels.”
Mim's diabetes history:
- Mim, now 42, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2012 at the age of 36.
- She fell into a coma before being diagnosed.
- The hospital where she was treated and diagnosed gave her leaflets about the condition, but Mim felt overwhelmed by it all.
- Having type 1 diabetes, she had to take medication right away to manage her condition, which she found stressful.
- Mim's driving became an issue last year when she developed severe low blood pressure and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Her license was then unfairly revoked by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
- Mim got her license back with support from Diabetes UK, but found it difficult to cope with the mental impact of not being able to drive for several weeks. She felt like a burden to her friends and was frustrated by the loss of her independence.
- Looking back, Mim wishes she had known more about driving rules and diabetes. She is now taking great care to manage her diabetes so she can continue driving.
- She doesn't have the luxury of instant blood sugar monitoring, but she tried the FreeStyle Libre.
My diagnosis experience
When I was diagnosed with Type 1 in 2012, it was a very stressful time for me. I am 36 years old and was rushed to the hospital after falling into a coma. I felt like I didn't have time to adjust to my diagnosis and had to just accept it. I needed to know a lot very quickly. That meant I needed to quickly understand how to manage diabetes with medication. I was given a lot of leaflets about diabetes and it was very overwhelming. I was then told that I would not be able to drive for several weeks until my blood sugar levels stabilized and I reported my diagnosis to the DVLA.
Driving, Diabetes UK and Me
Immediately after diagnosis, driving became a concern for me. I needed to go to the pharmacy to buy diabetes medicine and make doctor's appointments, but I was initially told not to drive, so I couldn't do that either. I didn't want to be burdened with having to constantly ask for a lift.
I realized I couldn't drive too hard, but things calmed down after that and seemed okay for a while. However, last year I suffered from severe hypotension and was unable to manage it myself. I called an ambulance and was taken to the hospital. There, I was examined by doctors and nurses who were not affiliated with the diabetes team that normally treats me. That's where my problems started. They advised me not to drive based on this one hypothesis. They told me to call the DVLA and repeat what they told me to say. As a result, my license was revoked.
I couldn't believe this had happened. It seemed unfair. I needed answers and support so I called the Diabetes UK Helpline number I got from the website. They confirmed that I was right that the DVLA should not have canceled my license based on one falsehood.
I contacted the DVLA about this and found it very inhumane and slow. It wasn't very helpful. However, I found the helpline team to be personal and supportive. They have contacts at the DVLA and through the relationship between these two organizations they were able to assist in getting my license back. I'm back in 6 weeks. The DVLA sent me a letter acknowledging that I did not need to have my license revoked, but there was no apology.
Hypos
This was a really important lesson for me. If I had known more about driving rules and had been more informed, I might have spoken to the DVLA differently. If I had the right knowledge, I might have been able to acquire more power.
Despite the challenges I've experienced, I know driving rules exist for a good reason: to protect everyone with diabetes and the public. But I think they are still unclear and complex.
We know that our blood sugar level must be 5 mmol/l to drive a car. And if it's 4.9mmol/l, you need to eat something to get your blood sugar up so you can drive.
With a hypo, you can test it and if the levels are normal, you can drive again after 45 minutes. And if you experience a hypo while driving, you know you have to stop, turn off the engine, and remove the key from the ignition. Next, move to the passenger seat.
I always used Jelly Babies to treat my hypos, but once when I went to a park and ride in the summer, the Jelly Babies melted in my car. I had to treat my hypo and it was all set. We also couldn't find any vending machines so we had to ask people in the bus line for sweets. It was embarrassing! I now keep glucose tablets in my car. Tablets are more reliable and last for years.
emotions
I think the most difficult thing for me as someone with type 1 diabetes is always having to be aware of it. There are no days off. Every time you eat, you need to think carefully about how it affects your blood sugar levels.
The mental effects of not being able to drive also took a toll on me. I felt like I had lost my freedom and independence. It was very stressful not having control over getting from point A to point B, so I didn't want to be a burden.
I also had a hard time asking people for help. However, when I went out in the evening, I had to ask a friend to drive me somewhere or take me home. It was very tiring having to plan so many things in advance. For example, you may have to remember to carry your backpack to work so you can carry your belongings home after going shopping.
Aside from the emotional impact, not being able to drive also affected my social life and work. I work in Bristol city center and live in the countryside so my commute has doubled. There is only one bus per hour and it is a long walk to get to the bus stop and get off at the opposite end. Don't forget the economic impact. The bus ticket cost was really expensive.
guidance and support
I attended the DAFNE course. This really helped me learn more about Type 1 and gave me the opportunity to meet other people with the same symptoms as me. I also found peer support through hospital groups and ended up joining Facebook and WhatsApp groups. These groups turned out to be really important because we supported each other and talked about the questions we had about Type 1. I also posted a question in the group. These included questions about the rules for driving when your license is revoked.
Managing type 1 diabetes
I don't have the luxury of instant blood sugar testing, but I know how life-changing it can be.
But the fact that diabetics can now use Flash to check their blood sugar levels while driving is great news.
One thing I wish I had known when I was first diagnosed over six years ago was that I didn't have to be perfect. I continued to try to calculate the numbers correctly, perfectly, and evenly. I was a perfectionist. But eventually I learned to let go. My advice to anyone currently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is to be kind to yourself.
