Driving with diabetes (risk of hypoglycaemia)

[UnaCorda]

I've been reading about a server at a fast-food restaurant who helped a customer who was suffering from low blood sugar and was in danger of losing consciousness. Obviously that's great that this woman was observant and knew just what to do in that situation.

However what bothers me is that this customer was in her car in the first place, potentially putting people at risk. Surely if you have a condition that means you could lose consciousness - whether it be diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, etc. - and you can't reliably control this with medication or by some other means, you don't get behind the wheel? Someone shared a story of a colleague who was killed by ending up under a truck having left work already knowing she was hypoglycaemic. Obviously a terrible thing to have happened, but this colleague could so easily have killed multiple other people not just herself.

Am I not understanding something about this situation, or AIBU?

It's a person with diabetes, not 'a diabetic' just like it's not 'an epileptic' but a person with epilepsy.

Apologies. I took my lead from other people's usage.

Now I think you are just trying to wind people up.

Was it actually a drive-thru though?

Yes, I think it was. It was in the US.

Everyones diabetes is there own - no two people are the same and no diabetes is the same for two people. Hyps can be variable and unpredictable and depend on things like other health issues, d&V, infections, shock, stress and physical activity

Generally with driving close watch is kep ton blood sugars and regular checks on journeys. E.g. Dad is an insulin dpendant type 2. Such that now before he drives he has to check his sugars and possibly eat something, and every two hrs whilst driving to monitor status. Even tho he is type 2 and rarely hypos - other health conditions are causing him problems so it is monitored.

Yabu diabetics have more checks and monitor their health far more than any random who passed their test at 17 and has never seen an optician in 40 years.

I maybe didn't give enough info, but in one case the woman asked to leave work early as she was suffering from low blood sugar. She then got into her car and drove home

FFS. And as you have been told, countless times, a symptom of hypos can be poor decision- making, doing stuff out of character, being in a mood, angry etc.

If you don't tell DVLA about a notifiable medical condition, you risk a £1000 fine...

^Doctors should have the right to notify the DVLA instead of relying on patients to.

Anyway I agree with you OP. Too many selfish people on the road

There are several problems here.

Despite what a PP said, that hypos are not random events, you can have delayed hypoglycemia after e.g. exercise or alcohol. Sometimes up to a day later.

Not everyone has hypo-awareness.
For those who don't, they have to finger-prick to check their blood glucose frequently. This may not be funded at a level they require by the NHS and they can be expensive to buy, around £25 for 50 strips, so rationing may happen.

Some people are lucky enough to have funding for 'continuous glucose monitoring' technology, but this truly is a postcode lottery and anyway, the data may not be accurate enough to provide real-time feedback.

None of this is to excuse driving while hypo, but unfortunately, you can't rely on yourself to make a good decision while you're having one. The only way to always avoid such situations is to test, test and test again which as outlined above, is advice some diabetics may find impractical.

I believe that many GPs are now rolling out cheaper blood glucose meters and strips in order to fund continuous glucose monitoring which may help people to gain more insight and greater control of their diabetes.

Wonder if there's more to that story OP or a bit of embelishment by the media as it doesn't really make any sense.
People with diabetes experiencing low blood sugar wouldn't routinely leave work as there would be really no need.

You would stay where you were and treat the hypo until your blood sugar levels are back in range. Type 1 diabetics very regularly take action to either prevent or treat low blood sugars and then just get on with their day.

Also worth pointing out that people without Type 1 can also randomly experience hypoglycaemia. It might even happen to you, possibly while you're driving.

Maybe you shouldn't. Just in case.

@RB68 - Thanks, that's interesting information.

MissPiggy19 doctors do have the right to notify the DVLA, the law was changed some time ago.

FFS. And as you have been told, countless times, a symptom of hypos can be poor decision- making, doing stuff out of character, being in a mood, angry etc.

Oh well, that's ok then. No need to worry about putting anything in place to prevent yourself from getting behind the wheel in that state.

Being drunk or high can cause poor decision-making, lack of inhibition, anger, change of character, etc. Do you consider that an excuse for driving under the influence?

There's really no talking to you is there Una Corda. Despite clearly having very little knowledge about the condition at all you obviously know best.

@ArkAtEee - Thanks for your sensible and informative post.

Speaking as a type 1 diabetic, and a driver, I can't believe people are saying that the legal requirements around testing and controlling blood sugar are "impractical" , and that someone shouldn't be blamed for driving whilst hypo as their judgement is impaired! What about driving when angry, or drunk?!

We have a responsibility to be safe to drive. If we can't meet that responsibility we don't drive. That's it! And unfortunately that includes ppl who have brittle diabetes and/or poor hypo awareness.

It's not actually fucking hard. Test before driving, and regularly. Snack while driving. Keep fast acting glucose handy. Know your diabetes, rotate your injection sites blah blah blah.

And where on earth do type 1 people not get strips on funded prescription? This should be headline news, if true.

Oh well, that's ok then. No need to worry about putting anything in place to prevent yourself from getting behind the wheel in that state

What is it you suggest?

Being drunk or high can cause poor decision-making, lack of inhibition, anger, change of character, etc. Do you consider that an excuse for driving under the influence?

What do,people who drink and drugs have in place? Nothing? So OK for the literally millions of adults who drink and take drugs on a daily basis to decide when they should or shouldn’t drive but not OK for a person with diabetes?

Wonder if there's more to that story OP or a bit of embelishment by the media as it doesn't really make any sense.

Yes, possibly.

There's really no talking to you is there Una Corda. Despite clearly having very little knowledge about the condition at all you obviously know best.

I'm sorry you think so and I am trying to read carefully and take on board what people are saying (especially the diabetes sufferers who have posted), but I'm not going to be convinced that it's acceptable to get into a car in the middle of a hypo, or not to take reasonable precautions to stop one occuring. I don't seem to be the only one who thinks this, either.

O one has said it is OK to get in a car whilst hypo. Same as no one would say it is OK to get in a car drunk. People,have explained how it might happen. Much in the same way as someone who is drunk might make a poor decision. You are not advocating that the sale of alcohol should be prohibited p. You are advocating that people with diabetes shoukdn’t Drive.

@SylvanianFrenemies - Thank you. It's good to see someone with diabetes gets what I mean.

@ArkAtEee take your point about delayed hypos. But that just emphasises the need to take responsibly and to increase preventative measures. I knowing more prone to hypos for 48 hours after exercise. So I run my sugars slightly higher before bed and driving and eat crisps dried fruit when at the wheel.

I'm not trying to be a smug know-it-all, like every diabetic I have plenty of fuck ups. But I try to save my risk taking for when I'm not risking killing myself and others.

@Butterer non-insulin treated type 2 people don't carry the same level of hypo risk that is the issue here.

What do,people who drink and drugs have in place? Nothing? So OK for the literally millions of adults who drink and take drugs on a daily basis to decide when they should or shouldn’t drive but not OK for a person with diabetes?

No, absolutely not ok for either group to drive when not in a fit state. I am clearly not suggesting driving under the influence is acceptable and I don't think it's me who's being provocative and obtuse.

Living with diabetes isn’t an ‘always do X and Y will always happen’ type of illness. The slightest little things can make your sugar levels go absolutely bonkers. With me it’s my period, one day I’ll eat everything I’m supposed to, take the correct insulin and my sugars will be fine, the next I do the same and my sugar levels can sky rocket to the point where I’ve seriously considered going to hospital because no amount of insulin will bring them down to a normal range, and pumping yourself full of insulin isn’t exactly a good idea either (the delayed hypo someone mentioned above).

The lady in this story could have done everything right and STILL had to stop her car as she felt her sugars dropping and while in the line at the drive through have them crash completely to the point where she needed help. Maybe she had already had something to eat or drink which would usually be enough for her to continue safely but for some reason, through no fault of her own, it didn’t work the usual way. It’s a bit much to assume she was just irresponsible.

Most diabetics are exceptionally aware of the risks of hypoglycaemia while driving and the potential repercussions, personally and legally, if something goes wrong.

Does anyone actually know what the guidance is in America for diabetic drivers? It’s drilled into us here heavily and of course we have restricted licences but is that the case there?

It's not actually fucking hard. Test before driving, and regularly. Snack while driving. Keep fast acting glucose handy. Know your diabetes, rotate your injection sites blah blah blah

Again, no one has suggested otherwise.

And where on earth do type 1 people not get strips on funded prescription? This should be headline news, if true

We get 50 every 28 days. We used 10 today managing hypos alongside normal useage. I buy a significant number at considerable cost. Like anyone is going to give a fuck. People with disabilities are blamed for their conditions. Every time. God help any person with a disability daring to live a normal life.