Compared to the general population, truck drivers had a 50% higher chance of getting Type 2 diabetes, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. In the United States, one in every seven truck drivers, or around 500,000 drivers, has diabetes.
Fleets need to be aware of these figures because drivers who have diabetes will encounter more difficulties. While legal modifications over the past 15 years have made it easier for drivers with insulin-dependent diabetes to stay on the road, there are now more risks associated with their loss due to illnesses or accidents, as well as potential increases in healthcare costs if they work for your fleet.
Fleets should take the initiative to enhance their drivers' quality of life so they may continue to support themselves and their families even after receiving a diabetes diagnosis. Diabetes is one of the chronic diseases with the greatest growth rate in the world, and it affects truck drivers even more frequently than the general population. A CDL is immediately lost for truck drivers with peripheral neuropathy, which affects 60% to 70% of people with diabetes and causes them to lose feeling in their hands and/or feet.
Without proper diabetes management, drivers risk experiencing diabetic episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can cause them to feel lightheaded, confused, or even pass out.
You can obtain authorization to operate a commercial vehicle in your state if you intend to work in the trucking industry just within your state and do not intend to cross any state borders.
Similarly, if you do not use insulin, you would not need to apply for Federal Diabetes. Exemption. Even if you do not cross state lines, the majority of commercial driving will be seen as interstate and not intrastate driving. This is also regarded as interstate commercial driving if you are transporting goods or people to or from another state. In order to learn more about intrastate commercial driving, speak with your home state's CDL regulations and determine whether they apply to you.
People with Type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin just need to adhere to their state's regulations in order to obtain and maintain their CDL. They can still cross state lines and won't need to submit a Federal Diabetes Exemption. However, you must apply for the Federal Diabetes Exemption if you learn that you will be using insulin.
You can indeed obtain a CDL. Please be aware that you must meet a number of medical requirements. For the Federal Diabetes Exemption, you must apply.
Commercial truck drivers with diabetes confront particular difficulties because of a work environment that restricts their ability to choose nutritious foods and leaves little time for exercise.
However, managing insulin and truck driving is doable with some advance planning.
Keeping appointments is challenging when you're constantly on the move. Doctor and dental appointments are frequently postponed in order to meet deadlines at work, especially if driving is your only source of money. However, scheduling medical appointments needs to be a top priority if you have major medical illnesses like diabetes. Call to reschedule if you can't make your appointment for a time when you will be at home.
First, you should wear a medical bracelet to identify yourself as diabetic in case of emergency if you have diabetes or any other major medical disorders. The search for these items is taught to emergency personnel. Second, make sure you have your medical history with you. A copy of your records, including any current prescriptions and lab results, can be printed by most healthcare providers who use electronic health records.
You should not download and test a couple of the wonderful fitness applications that are readily available for free if you have a smartphone or tablet. Additionally, you may keep track of your daily activities and meals.
The majority of roadside food alternatives are harmful. Fast food restaurants predominate on American highways. Working with your diabetes nurse or coach and maybe a dietitian is crucial if you have diabetes. There are several tools available to you to assist you in finding healthy choices that will aid in managing your diabetes.
To operate trucks and travel interstate, a driver must have a CDL. In the past, diabetics would not have been eligible for a CDL due to certain requirements. However, even though there are a lot of health restrictions, people with diabetes can still work as truck and bus drivers.
Traveling while managing diabetes requires preparation. You must make sure that you always have enough medication and supplies in your truck, including your glucose meter and test strips. Plan your meals and snacks in advance if you can. Your blood sugar will remain stable, and your stomach will be content with a cooler full of wholesome, low-GI foods.
A person with type 2 diabetes can earn their CDL in accordance with the FMCSA's new 2018 regulation for diabetics.
Because of the new regulation, which takes into account contemporary diabetes management, there is no longer a general ban on the use of insulin. Before, getting a CDL was more challenging for those with insulin-treated diabetes. The current judgment, however, affirms that people with diabetes can operate commercial motor vehicles in a safe manner.
The new laws declare that those with type 2 diabetes who do not need insulin can obtain and maintain a CDL by just adhering to their state's regulations.
A type 2 diabetic who needs insulin will now simply need to get a MEC to prove they have a reliable insulin regimen and can control their disease.
We took this video from Easy DOT Physicals YouTube channel.
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