Change

North-East lorry driver Hubert Dodds, 53, was stripped of his group two driving licence in February after becoming insulin-dependent.

The regulations were changed because of fears that drivers could go into a diabetic coma at the wheel, but critics say there is little chance of this happening to a well-regulated diabetic.

"It has hit us very hard," said Mr Dodds, who is having to sell his Northumberland home to make ends meet.

Now Mr Dodds, along with members of Diabetes UK, formerly known as the British Diabetic Assocation, is organising a letter-writing campaign to change the law.

"It is totally unfair that I have been discriminated against in this way. I am looked after better now than most drivers on the road. I have regular check-ups and I wouldn't drive if I felt unwell."

Mr Dodds, from Bedlington, was driving articulated lorries for a Morpeth haulage company until his licence was revoked.

"My boss gave me a warehouse job, but the money is very poor," he said.

He has written to roads minister Lord Whitty in protest.

Since 1991, diabetics who have to inject themselves with insulin every day have been unable to drive heavy goods vehicles or buses.

The regulation was tightened in 1997, when insulin-dependent diabetics were stripped of the right to drive mini buses and vans.

Earlier this year, MPs declared that the blanket ban was not justified and the Government should review the regulations.

Peter Bainbridge, of Diabetes UK, which represents Britain's 1.5 million diabetics, said: "What we want to see is individual assessment of diabetics before any decision is taken about their driving licences."

A spokesman for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency said Lord Whitty has already confirmed that the question of individual assessment of drivers would be examined.

A panel of medical experts will meet shortly to consider the issue.

"Work is also progressing on gathering information from other EU states about their practices for licensing drivers with insulin-treated diabetes," she added