Monday, November 19, 2012

Behind the Wheel

Driving with type 1 diabetes is something your diabetes education centre usually touches on when you're first learning about how diabetes affects every single thing that you do and visa versa. In fact just recently I had to sign a paper on the d.e.c of London saying that they covered the information about driving and diabetes.    It is extremely important to drive above five because we all know how we feel when we have a low now imagine getting behind the wheel.

Personally, I do a lot of driving and luckily I have a good sense if I feel low even when I am just tipping below five.  I have had a few experiences of going low at the wheel and having to stop in somewhere to park, grab something and sit.  Last night when I was heading back to London I had to stop at a truck stop after feeling not like myself, I pulled in, checked my blood sugar and headed into the truck stop to grab Sweetarts.

Sitting at the truck stop, keys in lap, Sweetarts in hand -  I started to realize how much diabetes impacts ones life.  How many extra obstacles a diabetic has to go through in order just to do regular, everyday things like drive home.   A low in your bedroom, is impacting yourself, but a low on the highway can be so much more.  It goes to show how important it can be to check blood sugars often and listen to your 'blood sugar' instincts.


Kayla  


2 comments:

  1. When I took drivers education back in the 1970's nothing was mentioned about my driving because of my having juvenile onset diabetes. When I went to get my license again nothing was said I had to be more diligent with my driving because I took insulin and could go into insulin reactions (hypos).

    I have always carried a roll of life savers with me so I've never had to stop to eat things because I've never been so low I couldn't drive.

    It's amazing how things have changes in 47 years. Teaching new juvenile onset diabetics that their blood sugars should be at a certain level to drive... that to me is kind of dumb. Why? Because some diabetics can function fine at 50mg/dL (2.8mmol/L) whereas others cannot function at 60mg/dL (3.3mmol/L)

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  2. My hubby actually had an accident due to low blood sugar. He was going about 90 miles an hour, almost hit the cop that was called to get him because of his driving, and hit another car instead. Scared the bejesus out of him and me. I wasn't in the car and fortunately the person in the car he hit and he didn't have any problems but some soreness though the cars were totaled. His blood sugar was 39. I think the hard thing is I've seen him coherent at 70 and I've seen him incoherent at 70 or he's at 70 and bombs down to 50 then 30 quickly.

    The dexcom is great in helping him notice what his blood sugar is but it does become a pain when he's low and has to wait till he can get his blood sugar up to drive. I have to keep reminding him that it is a pain but his and others safety is more important than the rush to get home.

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