Driving with Diabetes, Driving with Diabetes Options

[karen]

Hi everyone, i was at a diabetes support meeting at the begining of the month and one of the moms was asking questions about teenagers with diabetes driving. Does anyone have any experience with this? How do you monitor testing, basically looking for advice on how to approach with her 16 year old who is getting his permit and will be driving shortly.

Thought i would see if anyone had any information they could share, we aren't there yet but the thought to me is totally scary, ugh
karen

[stangpride]

Hi Karen,

My name is Kathleen and I am an ID diabetic (since the ripe age of 2.) I had to grow up experiencing learning how to drive and how to deal with consequences of reactions while driving. I had a horrible crash after wrecking one night my BGL went below 10 back when I was 17 years old and have never had another diabetic reaction which caused me to have another accident since that time. It was at that point I decided to get about 5 glucose tester machines. I keep one in a backpack with me at all times now (that's the the one which is always in my car with me - I do not leave it in the car - heat and cold conditions can ruin a glucose meter), I keep one at work, and also keep one in every room where I sit the most in the house. I watch for signs of confusion, inability to read, testiness, hunger, vision changes, and alertness, as all of these are signs my sugar could be dropping. That accident was quite a wake-up call for me as a teenager. Whenever I feel symptoms while driving, I immediately pull over and test my sugar. If it is low at the time, I always have something in my backpack to help me out. I never leave home without the backpack now and it's been a life-saver I don't know how many times. Since starting the pump, I can actually tell when my sugar is dropping again (I had become immune to noticing when I was still taking shots-it would happen too fast for me to see the signs which was the reason for the only major car-accident that occurred while having a reaction.)

At any rate, I understand how a mother could be very fearful of a teenage son who is about to start driving. If this boy is not on the pump, perhaps it would be a good consideration? Tell him my story and let him know he is welcome to contact me to talk about anything he wants to know. You can also share this information with the mother, and use it for yourself if you have any questions. I've been there and done a lot of what teens like to do, so I can and am very willing to share my life experiences.

V/r,

Kathleen Beck,
35 YO IDDM
Deltec Cozmo pump since June 2005

Hi everyone, i was at a diabetes support meeting at the begining of the month and one of the moms was asking questions about teenagers with diabetes driving. Does anyone have any experience with this? How do you monitor testing, basically looking for advice on how to approach with her 16 year old who is getting his permit and will be driving shortly.

Thought i would see if anyone had any information they could share, we aren't there yet but the thought to me is totally scary, ugh
karen

[karen]

Kathleen, thanks so much for your words of wisdom, it is so scary, teenagers think that they are invisible. I just copied your reply and sent it over to her, i'am hoping shewill join the board and contribute more of her experience. She is really having a hard time,
karen

[stangpride]

Kathleen, thanks so much for your words of wisdom, it is so scary, teenagers think that they are invisible. I just copied your reply and sent it over to her, i'am hoping shewill join the board and contribute more of her experience. She is really having a hard time,
karen

You are more than welcome Karen! Anytime! I love sharing with others and helping people cope. I know how difficult it can be at times. I've been through many struggles with my disease. I actually had a motorcycle accident 4.5 years ago (not diabetes related), but during my recovery, I had 3 insulin reactions in one week where I could not help myself, the very reason I chose to be put on the pump. Since that time, I have not had any overnight reactions where I could not wake myself up and help myself out of the ordeal. The pump has truly been a blessing to me. I can live my life so much freer than I could as a juvenile and I can tell you, I know from experience - no one has to know I am diabetic unless I so choose to tell them now. Before the pump, it was mandatory someone else knew because I could have insulin reactions out of the blue where I would go from be coherent to not knowing where I was or how to tell someone what was happening...the pump allows me to control myself so much easier. My glucose results are still bouncing all over the place after 3.5 years of being on the pump, but the longer I am on it, the more I am figuring out how to use it and the easier it is to handle and know how much insulin I need for particular foods.

Anyway I can help, I am willing...I love to share! Plus, I love to have others to talk to that have and still do experience what I am going through...I do not know it all, so it is nice to have a place to turn when I have questions of my own.

V/r,

Kathleen

[lovemydogs]

We have a 17 year old son, and he has been driving for about a year, we always remind him to test before driving, and to make sure that he always has a fast acting sugar on him and something in the car just in case. It is very scary to think about.

I think at this age its just constantly trying to make sure that they are doing what they need to do, we also tell friends to make sure he tests before driving.

Carrie

[IL Pump Wear Con...]

Hi there, My name is Jamie and I am a Pump Wear consultant. I wanted to let you know of a new product that we have available on our website for driving with diabetes. It is called a Medavisor Diabetes Low Blood Sugar Emergency Kit. Unique Medavisor "Diabetes Low Blood Sugar Emergency Kits" are a truly original concept. The car visor case attaches to your car visor with a "detachable case". The case holds several tubes of Dex 4 glucose tablets www.dex4.com , a 1 year emergency service with "Well Alarm" www.wellalarm.com , a free product from www.dex4.com, and a be prepared key tag.

The "Medavisor "Diabetes Low Blood Sugar Emergency Kits" conveniently hangs from the passenger visor of the car. Always within reach of the driver.

Medavisor "Diabetes Low Blood Sugar Emergency Kits" provide you with a place to always have a fast acting sugar. A free fast acting sugar product and a emergency service plan that will help quickly identify health needs. Great for Drivers with Diabetes, and for parents of children with diabetes. Having a fast acting sugar in your vehicle at all times gives you peace of mind that you will "Always be prepared".

The case is detachable allowing you to detach the case from the visor and pop in a hand bag or case. This allows you to "Always be prepared". (patent pending)

I hope this helps you and others who struggle with this issue. If you have any questions or would like to place an order, you can contact me at jamiepumpwear@yahoo.com. Have a great day.