Diabetes and driving: towards equitable, evidence-based decision-making.

In January 1998, the British government introduced new restrictions on licensing of people with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus to drive. These restrictions were based on the second EU driver licensing directive (91/4389) and looked to be costing insulin-treated diabetic individuals their entitlement to drive light goods and small passenger-carrying vehicles. In response to concerns expressed by the diabetes community in Britain, the British Diabetic Association commissioned a report examining and interpreting the available evidence of accident risk in insulin-treated diabetic patients, particularly that related to unexpected hypoglycaemia. The following article is drawn from that report.