Yup Wicky - I understand all that and appreciate the concerns.
My Retinography test shows good eyesight. I can still pass the driving sight requirements and have read the chart to above the acceptable limit. I've been tested for neuropathy, and my fingers and feet are fine. The consultant in charge said on the DVLA form, that she saw no reason to withhold my being able to ride, as I'm on a low dose of insulin, and am still in a good enough state of health to ride a bike. There are others at the clinic worse than me, and they drove by car on the 1 year licence.
I HAVE had a minor heart attack, and that was caused by being discovered Type1 diabetic. I have notified my insurance company, and told them about medical changes. I informed the DVLA, and have done all they wanted. I have been assured I'll get a temporary licence back, but will still no-doubt get the medical in due course.
I too have also (over the many years of riding), been pinned, plated, screwed and glued through a few nasty spills and encounters. I still rode with my crutches slung over my back. I adapted the bike to a suicide shift and never went onto a main road, but kept to private roads purely having to have the need to still get on a bike and ride, and not sit and fester.
When I broke my leg on another occasion, and was still fresh in full plaster, I borrowed a Ural outfit (old sidecar/combination) and rode that, cos I could stop, and not worry about putting my feet down. That had a tank change system fitted, and we made a rest so my leg could sit out in front. I attended my hospital appointments on that. They laughed every-time they saw me come down the corridor. (the crutches were carried in the sidecar). They also gave me a b0llocking for still riding a bike. But, many don't understand it's like a guy with a heroin addiction, or a person with a bad alcoholism. Riding is a drug, and it would take a hell-of-a-lot to stop me trying, even when pinned and plastered up. Or, on another occasion, an arm in plaster (yes, you can
still ride with one arm free and have good control - you just have to temporarily adapt the bike). The only thing I struggled with was kicking the Ural combination over to start her each time. But soon developed a knack of getting her going. Having a reverse gear helped immensely when parking too!
At the DVLA medical, they will assess eyesight, limb function, medication, and if I am aware of the dangers of Hypoglycemia, and what to do when it occurs (test every 2 hours before riding, and not ride when the levels are too low. In that case, I stop bike, park up, remove keys and step off the bike....take hypo treatment, and wait till the fresh blood glucose test shows a normal range)
As I CAN demonstrate the ability, and have no other cause for their concerns, they cannot take me off the road. I'm still as sharp as a tack on the road. If (or when) I get the licence back with the new details, and things change for the worse at a later date (when the 3 years are up), then I am aware that I can make the decision to quite riding, or accept the fact that my bike days are over.
But, until that happens. I'll still be out there. Riding when I can. If I lose a leg or foot through diabetes, then I can adapt the controls to suit. If I loose both legs, then I'll go down the Trike route.
If I lose my eyesight, then I'm fooked - but will be asking for pillion rides or sidecar trips.
The only 3 ways that will stop me riding, is to permanently revoke my licence on medical grounds, or I kill myself on the bike, or I die in me sleep!