A type one diabetic has been relying on lifts and infrequent buses for three months while waiting for her driving licence to be renewed.

The Andreas resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, is concerned for fellow sufferers who may be in a similar situation.

She said: ’I’m still waiting without a driving licence and no one will tell me when I will get one. I’m desperately reliant on my licence. It’s a mile from where I live to the bus stop and that’s in Andreas. If I wanted to get to Douglas it would take about two hours.’

Those with insulin-dependent diabetes have time-limited driving licences. They must be reviewed when their licence comes up for renewal.

If their medication hasn’t changed and their condition’s stable, the application can be signed off, but if it has changed a review will show if the person’s fit to drive.

The woman, who has had type one diabetes for 40 years, said she sent her renewal form at the end of August.

She added: ’There’s no communication. I could be without a driving licence for months. It’s worrying as a diabetic. It’s causing stress.’

We recently reported some motorists have been waiting six weeks or more to have licences renewed after a consultant at Noble’s diabetes clinic was suspended.

Dr Emran Khan was suspended in July, on full pay, from practising at the hospital but successfully challenged his suspension in the High Court last week.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said a locum diabetes consultant had been engaged due to Dr Khan’s absence.

The consultant ’didn’t know the patients’ medical backgrounds and individual issues as Dr Khan did, so naturally, he looked at each case in depth’ and could not sign off an application without being sure it was safe to do so.

The backlog has since been cleared by Dr Khan except for those who need to come into the centre to download their glucose readings.

’They’ve been made aware of drop-in sessions on Friday mornings, and will be calling in to get this done, after which, letters can be sent off regarding their driving licences,’ they added.