Starting Sept. 22, drivers with insulin-dependent diabetes can apply to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for an exemption from federal medical restrictions.

Applicants must have a valid intrastate CDL or license to operate a commercial vehicle and must have operated a commercial vehicle, while using insulin to control a diabetic condition, for the three years immediately preceding the application.
That three-year driving record can't have any suspensions or revocation, no convictions for disqualifying offenses, no more than one serious traffic violation, and no accidents where the applicant contributed to the cause or received a citation for a moving violation.
Applicants cannot have other disqualifying medical conditions and must provide certification that he or she meets diabetes-related qualifications.
Drivers issued exemptions will be required to maintain a daily record of actual driving time to correlate with daily glucose measurements. They will be required to check glucose before starting to drive and take any corrective action if necessary. While driving they will have to check glucose every two to four hours and take appropriate action as necessary.
Exemption recipients will have to provide quarterly reports of their medical condition and monitoring devices and will have to undergo annual evaluations by an endocrinologist and an ophthalmologist or optometrist. They will be required to report any diabetes-related medical problems to FMCSA and report any involvement in an accident whether or not it is diabetes related.