Diabetes

Topic 19132 | Page 1

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Aaron S's Comment
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Hello, I am not sure if I have diabetes but if I do, would I be able to truck drive if on meds? Same with Cholesterol, blood pressure etc

Big Scott's Comment
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If you are not on insulin I think you can get a DOT med card. I think if you are on insulin you will need a waiver. Also try here TT search results for diabetes. Good luck.

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Rick S.'s Comment
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Hello, I am not sure if I have diabetes but if I do, would I be able to truck drive if on meds? Same with Cholesterol, blood pressure etc

Kinda want to be SURE about diabetes, as well as BP & Cholesterol.

And having ALL THREE is (without seeing you) a pretty good indication of OBESITY (which also might indicate SLEEP APNEA).

That being said - it's dependent on your HEMOGLOBIN A1C (and fasting sugars). If you're on ORAL DIABETES MEDICATION, your most recent blood work (including A1C's) and a note from an ENDOCRINOLOGIST, should get you a 1 year medical card.

Same goes for BLOOD PRESSURE - which must be UNDER 140/90 - with or without medication.

Cholesterol meds aren't really look at as hard - so long as the meds you're on, don't have side effects (drowsiness) that would make you unsafe to operate a CMV.

Now - time for the LECTURE. I was 5'6"/307lbs. My A1C was 6.5, my BP & Cholesterol were barely manageable with oral meds - I was on my way TO THE INSULIN NEEDLE.

Lost 130 lbs - and OFF ALL MEDS - ALL CONDITIONS BACK TO NORMAL.

If you "don't know" - TIME TO FIND OUT. If you're NOT PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN (pretty much, once you're ON INSULIN and your A1C's are 7-8 or higher) - THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

SEE A DOCTOR - GET YOUR BLOOD WORK DONE. Get on meds (if you need them) and GET OFF THE FORK. Obesity puts you at SERIOUS RISK for an EARLY DEATH. Whether you can drive a truck, is THE LEAST OF YOUR WORRIES.

Now - that being said - as long as you can score less than 140/90 on your BP, and you on are ORAL DIABETES MEDS (well managed with a doctors letter), you "should" be able to get a med card and drive.

If you require INSULIN, the process is way more complicated.

But again - if you suspect you suffer from ALL THREE - you won't be healthy enough to drive (or do much else), unless you take corrective action on your health and lifestyle...

Rick

CMV:

Commercial Motor Vehicle

A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:

  • Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
  • Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
  • Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
  • Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
  • Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards

Sleep Apnea:

A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.

In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.

It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
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