DOT Diabetes Exemption Program - Questions and Experiences

Greetings,

First post ever. I drove for Swift for 2 years before failing my last DOT physical. I was put on a line haul route which ran from Kingman, KS to Dalhart, TX and back; plus, round trip from South Wichita to and from Kingman. Total drive time was about 12 to 13 hours between truck and my personal vehicle. So, the lack of time to properly take care of myself caused me to fail. Even then, I had moved to Cunningham which is 15 minutes from Kingman; but, I didn't have enough catch up time to bring my numbers back down. So, Swift gave me 3 months of FMLA and I worked like a dog trying to get healthy again; however, lack of income meant no food, house, or car. I lost it all and had to move home with my folks.

It's been about 2.5 years since then, I'm tired of college, the USPS is closing my facility and I feel driving a truck is my only option; so, I decided to try for the exemption program. I'm about 2 to 3 months into it and just waiting for DOT to post my name onto their registry. Gotta do that twice before they grant the exemption.

Anyhoot, I've been working with DOT to get all the paperwork filled out and submitted to get the diabetes exemption. Have 2 more forms to mail Monday and that should be it. I feel confident I'll get it. Since I don't want to bug DOT for q's all the time, I'd like to hear from other drivers who have been on the program for a while. I'd like to know if the diabetes management requirements have made daily life more of a PITA than before the exemption. The most I understand is that DOT has a much broader blood sugar requirement than what most any Endocrinologist would ever think about allowing. This much I have no trouble following. My concern is the amount of blood sugar checking required in a day and any other requirements I need to follow.

I do plan on going back to Swift. I had an excellent relationship with the Edwardsville terminal. I have been in contact with them and they'll give me the green flag once I have my exemption from DOT.

Thanks for the info!

 

Good luck to you. Just to be on the safe side, you may want to get that college degree. Again, good luck to you.

 

unless you use insulin that falls under federal guidelines, all you need to do is not drive if blood sugar is over 200, and the important part under a doctors care, and unless you got sucked into some companies dot clinic and took a act test and it was over seven, there is not much the dot can do. however i do urge you to watch your blood sugar levels everyday and not just when you think about it. lots of luck

 

I do use insulin, that's why applied for the exemption in the first place.

 

blazblu82 - God be with you. My wife has been insulin dependent for about 15 years. Yesterday the eye surgeon gave her a shot in her right eye to shrink the blood vessels that are leaking. All she can see right now are shadows because of the blood that is mixed in with the gel inside her eye. In 3 to 4 weeks, we find out if he'll be able to laser the blood vessels or if he will need to do eye surgery to correct the problem. She is 59.

I am sure you don't need preaching to but keep your blood sugars as close to the normal range as you can. Don't cheat.

BTW, if you begin to see black "floaters" in your eye, go straight to the doctor, don't wait!


Much Success!
Bill

 

There are a couple treatments that type 2 patients can do that use insulin to control the numbers so they can get on the right track but these are beyond the DOT requirements because they are not considered insulin dependent. I wonder are you a type 1 or 2?

ALSO I would get college out of the way no matter what if you have access to it. getting a degree behind you makes you a bit more versatile than not having one at all.

 

Floaters in your eyes are very common, not necessarily due to or result of diabetes.
However, if several of them show up suddenly where none have before, get to an eye doc immediately.
Mary

 

I agree, get to a doc asap.


It can also be a very low blood sugar issue, an inner ear problem and a nerve problem in your neck that can cause it.

 

Diagnosed type 2. However, my pancreas isn't producing the amount of insulin it should; so, I have been on insulin + metformin for the past 2.5 years. I was doing fine OTR; but, I was put on a "local" shuttle run which occupied 14 hours each day leaving me little time to properly take care of myself. By the time I moved closer to the shuttle meeting point, my physical was too close and I didn't have enough time to recoup the ground I lost. I'm doing much better now, just have to have the insulin to manage. Not suffering from any other health issues either.

I was just wanting to hear from other drivers who are exempted to find out how much the regulations impact on their ability to operate normally.

 

I do have a couple floaters, but the eye doc I went to 2 months ago wasn't concerned. Said my eyes looked healthy.