New type 1 diabetic 1st time exemption

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Mwhitewolf, Jan 28, 2018.

  1. Mwhitewolf

    Mwhitewolf Bobtail Member

    4
    3
    Jan 28, 2018
    Austin, Texas
    0
    Have been through many threads about diabetics who are trying to become truckers and those that already are. I am a type1 diabetic trying to become a trucker for interstate commerce. This has been a dream for awhile now but have never driven in the past. Does anyone know the success rate for a type 1 who has never had a cdl? For discussion purposes here is a little about my diabetic history.
    I was first diagnosed in August 2014. The doctor then placed me on metformin whiched seemed to help for awhile but later started me on insulin. In January 2017 my a1c was at 10.1 and started seeing an endocrinologist. It was the best decision I made. After 6 months she put me on a system called omnipod along with a dexcom unit.
    For those unfamiliar with these devices an omnipod is a insulin pump but without external tubing. The dexcom unit takes my bg level every 5 minutes. The device needs to be calibrated twice a day and the readings are fairly accurate. Accurate enough to give a proper insulin dose at mealtimes.
    Anyway these 2 units, and a proper diet, have enabled me to bring my a1c to 6.5 as of last week. My average bg is now 129. Thanks to the dexcom I can treat my bg before it gets to low and see how fast i am rising or falling. Of course with a good diet my fluctuations are not severe.
    Back to my exemption. This month I had my endocrinologist fill out her portion of the checklist. Also had my optomologist fill out his and got my dot physical. Last week I faxed all the paper work asked for to the fmcsa and trying to contact them to make sure everything is ok and filled out properly before I mail in the originals.
    Understand the process can take up to 180 days to hear back if i get my exemption once they receive the original papers. Would like to hear from others who may be in a similar circumstance and have received their exemption or those who know someone who has. I feel my chances are good and hope to join the industry soon. Happy to answer any questions you may have about the process i have been through or the devices i use or anything else.
    Thanks for listening.
     
    bigkev1115 Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

    Regs say you can't drive interstate if using insulin. I haven't heard anything about an exemption.

    Regs aside, most type 1 diabetics produce some insulin. Have you tried an extremely low carb (keto) diet? If the metformin was having some effect, then a ketogenic diet may be enough to let you go without the external insulin.

    Unfortunately, very few doctors are willing to educate themselves on dietary solutions to many problems. It's far easier to prescribe a pill than to make the patient actually work to get better.
     
  4. Mwhitewolf

    Mwhitewolf Bobtail Member

    4
    3
    Jan 28, 2018
    Austin, Texas
    0
    Thank you for your reply. My endocrinologist did a c-peptide test and it came back negative for insulin. Still the diet is not off the table. At the least i would require less daily insulin and perhaps even a more stable bg.
    I applied for the exemption through the FMCSA. Thier exemption is for a diabetic "waiver" to allow diabetics to drive interstate. As long as they can show stable bg levels, among other things, the exemption is approved. Once approved the exempt person must see their endocrinologist on a quarterly basis and reapply for the diabetic exemption yearly. If you would like more information their website is Driver Exemption Programs
    It's a long process and can be expensive for those who need to see multiple doctors or require more testing.
     
    MagnumaMoose and Dan.S Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.