Diabetes and getting your CDL again or for the first time

I have two friends who have diabetes and take the pills. As long as you are not on insulin, you should be OK. There was some discussion at one point about allowing those who were insulin dependent to hold a CDL as long as they were closely monitored. I don't recall whether that is the case or not. You could call a local clinic that does DOT physicals and ask them.

 

Many truckers have Type 2 Diabetes.. I take Metformin twice a day and pass the DOT physical. They are strict on blood pressure now more than ever, but if you control it with medication that's OK. If money is tight for you right now, check Prime Inc. and Central Refrigerated for CDL training with no money up front. Goodwill Industries has a free CDL training program, but that's all I know about that. Prime Inc. pays $600.00 a week while riding with a trainer until you go solo; and also have choice of reefer, flatbed, tanker. The best annual pay these days is in tanker/hazmat and next is flatbed. Still you can do OK with refrigerated. Hope this information helps. Welcome back.

 

If you have type 2 diabetes you still have to demonstrate through your doc that you have it under control and don't have a high A1C. The only difference between it and type 1 is you don't have to get a waiver and go through the hoopla. But with it under control you should have no problems.

 

You will get a one year card and not two years however as long as you are not using insulin your golden until next years DOT.

 

I have type 2 Diabetes and just got my DOT card two days ago....they never even mentioned it, I listed it on the initial paperwork that I filled out with the meds I take and it was no worries at all.....

 

i am type 2 and i get a 1 year card. its no big deal. just watch what you eat and keep an eye on that glucose level.

 

I have been a type 2 diabetic since 2005 and my return to this business from a two year absence triggered a lot of problems with that first physical. I go through an annual DOT physical and the diabetes issues/treatment came up once in that time after that first physical. My last one was a week ago, it wasn't even talked about. UNLESS you are insulin DEPENDENT, you have nothing to worry about - even if you voluntarily take insulin to control your type 2 diabetes which is done in some cases, just document it, make sure your doc says it is voluntary so the examiner can document it.

That said, one thing that I have to warn you about is the related problem, BP, BMI and so on, I would make an appointment with your regular GP and get going on seeing what related problems you have and if there is any thing that can be done to mitigate the problems - especially if the BP is high, get on a diet, lose weight and walk. This will cause you more issues with the physical than anything else.