Diabetic Drivers Advised to Use Extra Caution

12/07/2009

Diabetes is widely known as one of the nation's top medical issues, with a growing number of Americans affected each year. However, few may realize that it can also be a safety issue that has ramifications for both public safety and the auto insurance industry.

That's because diabetes can affect the body's cognitive and motor functioning abilities, which can become an even more serious matter when combined with driving. This is especially the case with hypoglycemia, when one's blood sugar levels become too low.

With that in mind, recent research by the American Diabetes Association focused on 452 diabetic drivers from various parts of the country who reported various driving "mishaps" such as accidents, citations and loss of vehicle control.

The research found that drivers with type 1 diabetes tend to have more collision and citations than their non-diabetic spouses, and that 52 percent of the drivers in the study reported at least one mishap related to hypoglycemia. Some had more serious difficulties, with 5 percent reporting six or more such incidents in the same time frame.

People with type 2 diabetes, which has become increasingly common in recent years, can also be prone to the same spells that can create dangerous driving conditions fairly quickly. With that in mind, diabetics are generally advised to keep track of their blood sugar and to exercise.

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