Diabetes can negatively impact your driving function. In fact, fluctuating blood glucose levels are the main reasons for impaired alertness and delayed reaction. Even worse, a severely low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) can cause loss of consciousness. You can simply imagine what would be consequences of getting unconscious while driving on busy roads.
Similar to hypoglycemia, abnormally high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) also affect your ability to drive safely.
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Why Driving with Diabetes is a Serious Concern
#1. Diabetes delays your brake response time.
Brake response time refers to the duration that you take to apply brakes after you realize an impending hazard on the way. Normally, the safety brake response threshold is 0.70 second. However, it may range from 1 to 3.5 seconds depending on the driver’s experience, fatigue level, and atmospheric clarity. In one study, the researchers found that diabetics with nerve disorders in the lower extremities took longer than 0.70 seconds to apply brakes. On the other hand, healthy participants in the study showed no delay in applying the brakes.
#2. Diabetes affects your vision.
Poorly controlled blood glucose levels may cause blurring of vision. Both clouding of the eye lens (cataract) and damages in the retina (diabetic retinopathy) affect your vision. Thus, with diabetes, the visual impairment may significantly affect your ability to operate a motor vehicle.
#3. Medications that treat diabetes could cause a dangerous drop in the blood glucose levels.
Particularly, hypoglycemia should be a major concern if you take insulin to control blood sugar. Interestingly, studies are yet inconclusive about the extent of risk caused by insulin. Nonetheless, more than half of the clinicians suggest a blood test before driving for the drivers who take insulin.
3 Essential Safety Measures for Diabetic Driving
#1. Always make sure to test for blood glucose before driving. Drive only if the blood glucose levels are within the within the safe range. During a long drive, check your blood glucose every four hours.
#2. Keep high-sugar food items within reach in case you have hypoglycemia during the ride.
#3. Check if you have forgotten to wear a diabetes medical I.D. before getting into your car.
Have a safe and enjoyable journey.
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[expand title=”References“]
- The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. URL Link. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. URL Link. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. URL Link. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- Mayo Clinic. URL Link. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- American Diabetes Association. URL Link. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
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