As a physician, I have been advocating for patients with diabetes and their wellbeing for decades. Now I’m hoping you will help me make the workplace a fairer place for drivers with diabetes.
Imagine putting off taking the insulin you need to stay healthy because you could lose your job. Or imagine being fired or prevented from working a job that involves any driving because you use insulin. That’s exactly what commercial drivers with diabetes face every day - all across the United States.
The current time-consuming special exemption process for commercial drivers who use insulin needs to change. Instead, people with diabetes should go through the regular licensing system and be fairly evaluated by a physician knowledgeable about diabetes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed a new rule to do just that. This is great news!
But we need your help to ensure this becomes a reality. Public comments are needed on the proposed rule, and it’s important the voices of people who care about diabetes be heard. Tell the FMCSA that people with diabetes can safely operate commercial motor vehicles.
Click on this link and let your voice be heard on this rule. Sample comments that you can edit are below. Please don’t delay as the deadline to submit comments is coming very soon.
SAMPLE COMMENT:
Changing the diabetes standard to allow people with insulin-treated diabetes to drive commercial vehicles is long overdue and I applaud the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for taking this step now.
This proposed rule recognizes most people with diabetes safely operate motor vehicles. Under the new rule, each driver would be assessed on how diabetes affects him or her, and not simply based on a diagnosis of diabetes or the use of insulin.
Removing the medical certification process from an exemption program will make commercial driver licensing fairer for people with diabetes, while still keeping the important step of having the driver’s diabetes evaluated by a health care provider knowledgeable about diabetes. I urge FMCSA to move swiftly to adopt this as a final rule.
It’s always best to personalize your comments. Then click here to stand up for people with diabetes. I hope you will join me and add your voice to this very important issue.
Sincerely,
Daniel Lorber, MD, FACP, CDE
Vice Chair, National Advocacy Committee
American Diabetes Association
P.S. Posting your comments on this issue will make a big difference. The deadline is approaching and we need your voice to be heard on this important issue.
Find out more about the American Diabetes Association's advocacy efforts:
Legislative Priorities | 2014 Advocacy Accomplishments | Take Action on Other Alerts