Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) assessment he has made of new diabetes monitoring technologies for drivers and (b) discussions his Department has had with the DVLA on updating the DVLA guidance on new diabetes monitoring technologies.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has worked closely with the Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on driving and diabetes mellitus to understand the potential impacts of allowing the use of alternative methods of glucose monitoring. Following consultation with key stakeholders the panel agreed that the evidence demonstrated that interstitial fluid glucose monitoring systems could be used to monitor glucose levels for the purpose of driving cars and motorcycles once the DVLA had published the revised guidelines.

The DVLA is currently amending the Assessing Fitness to Drive guidance on the use of new monitoring technologies for people with diabetes. The revised guidance is due to be published in February. This will allow the testing of interstitial fluid for driving licensing purposes for people with diabetes who drive cars or motorcycles. Drivers of goods vehicles and buses must continue to monitor blood glucose levels.