How sugar affects your DOT exam and your certification length is important to know.  More importantly, how Insulin affects your DOT exam is critical if you are an Insulin dependent diabetic.  

When commercial drivers present for the DOT physical they are required to provide a urine sample.  The sample always is testing for medical conditions.  The specific things the medical urine sample tests for are: blood, protein, sugar and specific gravity (a measurement of how concentrated the sample is).  In some circumstances your employer may have you do a toxicology urine test, otherwise known as a ‘drug test’, but the toxicology urine sample is not required for your medical certificate.

The presence of sugar in your urine indicates there is a problem.  It does not automatically give you the diagnosis of diabetes nor automatically require you to take insulin.  The urine portion is considered a screening evaluation.  It is not diagnostic, meaning it cannot say for certain you have a named medical condition.

Your examiner will require:

1. further questioning regarding your food and fluids intake to see if that explains why there is sugar in your urine
2. a more detailed family history regarding diabetes
3. more specific diagnostic tests to make sure you’re healthy and do not have a sugar handling disease

After the examiner is certain you’re safe to operate vehicles on motorways they’ll determine your certification length.  If you have the diagnosis of diabetes that may impact the length of your certification, but more than anything what medications you take influences your certification length.

Oral medications may reduce the card length your examiner give you.  If you’d like to see what the FMCSA says about earning a two year card you can click here.

Insulin is another story.  The FMSCA has specific requirements for people dependent on Insulin.  Please click here for more information on the Insulin waiver program.

How Sugar Affects Your DOT Exam – We’ve put together some great tips on Diabetes Prevention and welcome you to visit that post.

We know you’re busy and when you need a DOT physical we’re here to help.  If you’re able to pay online and register this saves you $10 and a bunch of time when you arrive to your exam.

Here is how the process works:

Learn How Sugar Affects Your DOT Exam plus Schedule Your DOT Physical Exam in Grand Junction

Here is how the process works:

1. Register and pay for your exam by clicking here
2. Arrive ready to complete minimal paperwork
3. We’ll do a thorough examination and determine your certification length
4. You have the option of having us recommend wellness strategies that’ll improve your health

To make your life easier you can register and pay for your DOT Physical in Grand Junction, Colorado at www.dotgj.com plus save $