Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate diabetes management in Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders, how prescribing habits change when treating this patient population, and health care providers’ knowledge of regulations concerning insulin use in CDL holders.

Methods

A survey was posted on the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) Communities of Interest websites and was open for 2 weeks. The anonymous survey collected demographic data and evaluated the perspectives of health care providers on diabetes management in CDL holders. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey results.

Results

A total of 139 AADE members responded to the survey, and 22.2% were prescribing providers. Findings from the survey indicated an overall lack of knowledge by health care professionals regarding the current laws affecting diabetes management in CDL holders. Most participants emphasized the need for making decisions on CDL suspension on a case-by-case basis, and some expressed concern that current laws may not be appropriate.

Conclusion

Additional diabetes education for health care providers who treat CDL holders is warranted as many health care providers were not familiar with current regulations and management strategies.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Songer

Lave

LaPorte

. The risks of licensing persons with diabetes to drive trucks. Risk Anal. 1993;13(3):319-326.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Commercial driver’s license program. http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/cdl/cdl.htm. Accessed November 25, 2013.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. 49 CFR Parts 300-399. http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=383.91. Accessed February 24, 2014.

Code of Federal Regulation. Title 49: transportation. Subpart E: physical qualifications and examinations. §391.41. http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=0b1fe33ac2b897c35a7612005006ddf1&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=49y5.1.1.2.34. Accessed November 1, 2013.

Code of Federal Regulation. Title 49: transportation. Subpart G: limited exemptions. §391.64. http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=0b1fe33ac2b897c35a7612005006ddf1&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=49y5.1.1.2.34. Accessed November 1, 2013.

American Diabetes Association. Commercial driver’s license. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/know-your-rights/discrimination/drivers-licenses/commercial-drivers-and-diabetes-discrimination/. Accessed February 25, 2014.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Driver exemption programs. http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/medical/exemptions.htm. Accessed November 1, 2013.

Laberge-Nadeau

Dionne

Ekoe

. Impact of diabetes on crash risks of truck-permit holders and commercial drivers. Diabetes Care. 2000;23(5):612-617.

Canadian driver’s licence reference guide. http://www.cvsa.org/members/documents/2013/Canadian-Drivers-Licence-Reference-Guide-Revised-01-13.pdf. Accessed February 25, 2014.

10.

Cox

Kovatchev

Anderson

Clarke

Gonder-Frederick

. Type 1 diabetic drivers with and without a history of recurrent hypoglycemia-related driving mishaps. Diabetes Care. 2010;33(11):2430-2435.

11.

Lonnen

Powell

Taylor

Shore

MacLeod

. Road traffic accidents and diabetes: insulin use does not determine risk. Diabet Med. 2008;25:578-584.

12.

American Diabetes Association. Diabetes and driving. Diabetes Care. 2014;37(S1): S97-103.