Diabetes risk warning for drivers

Employers of drivers have been warned to monitor type 2 diabetes and manage the risks. Those who drive a lot are at double the risk.

The Diabetes Safety Organisation (DSO), a group that advocates for diabetes safety, has stated that employers who employ a large number of drivers should recognize and investigate the prevalence of the disease as an occupational disease, rather than a simple health condition.

This warning was issued following a consultation with industry experts and road safety experts by the DSO. The Road Haulage Association was one of the bodies that were consulted, as well as Evri and other industry leaders.

DSO has stated that people who drive have a doubled risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. In the UK, there are more than 5 million people with the condition, and 1 in 4 people don’t know they have it.

Employees on the road who are unable manage their health effectively at work can pose a risk to their safety and health. It advised that road transport companies in particular should be prepared to manage risks.

Every 1,000 employees will experience between one and three cases of severe hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), or ‘hypos,’ in the workplace each month.

DSO warns that people with severe nerve damage have three times as many driving accidents. DSO warns that people with severe nerve damage are three times more likely to have driving accidents.

Complicated situations can cause early exits from the workforce and loss of skill. The workplace group noted that around 38% of employees with diabetes between 45 and 64 years old leave the workforce due to diabetes complications.

In addition, certain workplace practices can directly contribute to diabetes or diabetes complications.

It warned that employees with the condition often go against doctors’ orders to manage the condition in order to meet productivity goals at the workplace.

Moreover, collision data tends to not record the presence or contribution or diabetes or whether people drove for work.

DSO noted that the current requirements for medical fitness to drive assessments do not reduce several diabetes risks. Tests are not required before age 45, they do not include grey fleet (personally-owned and non-liveried), and they focus on hyporisk primarily.

It warned that those at greatest risk of being excluded from the screening process may do so because they have known medical conditions or fear losing their jobs.

Kate Walker, managing Director of DSO said: “Diabetes-safe’ driving can only be achieved when employers support people with diabetes that drive as a profession to effectively manage their condition.

Walker continued, “This will improve road safety for everyone on the road and help people with diabetes to avoid health complications which could lead to their license being revoked or forced early retirement from the workplace.”

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