Missy Porteous, MS, RD, CDE

Control your diabetes, save your license

Many drivers are faced with a dual dilemma: being diagnosed with diabetes, then losing their license when placed on insulin.
     It’s time for some good news. Recently, the American Diabetes Association helped enact a law that allows drivers on insulin a chance to get their license back. All it takes is good blood sugar control and your doctors to agree that you are safe to drive. The program is called the Federal Diabetes Exemption Program. It requires medical exams and paperwork certifying your good health to be sub- mitted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. For information, look on the Web or call 703-448-3094.
     Unfortunately, not many drivers, trucking companies or even some doctors know about this exemption program. But now you do.
     More challenging for some is obtaining good blood sugar control. This means moderating your intake of carbohydrate foods, such as bread, cereals, rice, pasta, beans, peas, potatoes, corn, fruit and sweets so you are not taking in too much at once. This is important, because diabetes is a condition in which the body has trouble breaking down carbohydrates (which turn into sugar). Our body’s cells use sugar for fuel, like a truck uses diesel for fuel. But with diabetes, there is a malfunction.
     The result is a buildup of sugar in the blood, causing complications of diabetes like eye, kidney, nerve and heart disease. So, spread the intake of carbohydrates evenly throughout the day and balance your meals with adequate low-fat protein foods and more non-starchy vegetables (not potatoes, corn, peas or winter squash).
     If you take insulin, you will want to take the amount of insulin, determined by your doctor, that is right for you and for the amount of carbohydrate that you eat. Finding this balance is key to good blood sugar control.
     If you have Type 2 diabetes, you will also want to maintain–or reduce to–a healthy body weight and do regular physical activity. This helps your body use the insulin it is still producing, lowering insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the root cause of Type 2 diabetes. Lower it as much as possible for optimal blood sugar control to reduce your need for diabetes medication and insulin.
     Overall, diabetes is a self-managing condition. Fortunately, lifestyle choices such as healthy eating, regular physical activity and even stress management positively affect your blood sugar control and reduce the risk of diabetes complications. They can even help you stay on the road!
     Missy Porteous, MS, RD, CDE is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. If you would like more information on diabetes management, please visit her web site at LifeQualityRD.com.