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<p>Oral medications are widely used to control high blood glucose levels in patients
with type 2 diabetes, leading to reductions in long-term complications of diabetes
such as heart and kidney disease. The risk of hypoglycaemia associated with these
drugs is well-known and is evaluated in detail both at the time of marketing authorisation
approval and in the post-marketing period.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Patient
Information Leaflet provided with all oral diabetes treatments contains advice on
the risk of hypoglycaemia while driving. Patients are instructed to take appropriate
precautions or to avoid driving completely if affected by hypoglycaemia.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s ‘At a glance
guide to the current medical standards of fitness to drive’ (May 2014) provides detailed
advice to healthcare professionals on the management of patients receiving oral diabetes
therapies who wish to drive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency keeps the safety of medicines under continual review and
is in regular discussion on relevant issues with the DVLA and the Department for Transport,
most recently regarding the development of public communications for the new offence
of driving with certain drugs taken above specified limits, which is due to come into
force in March 2015. The new offence mainly involves illegal drugs and those with
sedative effects and does not include treatments for diabetes.</p><p> </p><p><strong>
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