I'm type 1 and drove for almost 4 years. It's been a couple years but I'm getting back into it again and just got my medical card and permit. It's waaaaay easier than it used to be to get and keep your medical card with type 1 but he still might not qualify. Like you said, the big one that may disqualify your brother is the lows that required assistance, depending on how recent they were. I'll go ahead and link the form his endocrinologist would have to fill out. I'm too lazy to look through it right this minute since I'm about to go to bed, but I believe the standard is for the last 3 months iirc.
I feel for your brother especially doing construction. I've never needed help from anyone else with any of my lows but working construction with diabetes is super hard. I would have lows alot too especially with the heat wave this summer. Literally walk outside in 95 degree weather after taking insulin and blood sugar plummets. Totally sucks.
Here's the form:
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/medical/insulin-treated-diabetes-mellitus-assessment-form-mcsa-5870
The process is to take this form to the endo and have them fill it out. Then take the completed form to the DOT medical exam and they'll do the rest. If he passes the exam he will get a one year medical card unless he has other medical issues that would cause it to be for a shorter period.
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
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.
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One of my brothers, whom I had the construction business with is interested in trucking now. Im going to take him a long for a few trips so he can see what goes on out here first hand. Hes a type 1 diabetic, but pretty thin and lean and very active. It wreaks havoc with keeping his sugar levels balanced, and unfortunately he goes low frequently even with consistent diet, activity and insulin management. Hes gone low to the point that it requires hospitalization at times.
Hes got a CGM-continuous glucose monitor which has helped tremendously, it tells him what he is trending at, so levels can be adjusted proactively instead of reactively. My question is that I seemed to recall reading that for obtaining a medical card, a diabetic must not have incidents of low blood sugar within a certain amount of time, like 6 months or a year? Is that accurate?
In the spirit of this community I do my best to present the truth, good, bad and ugly to him. I have concerns that he would go low at some point which would be catastrophic, he doesnt have a solid track record of keeping that from happening. If it sounds like Im hovering over him, Ive had to deal with many such incidents over the years.
I have my own issues with hypoglycemia that I work very diligently on, so I can understand the battle. My other question is, is it feasible for him to be a driver given the history of going low in the first place.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.