Driving

[Shawny]

So there I was, at 10:00AM coming around a bend and I noticed this guy driving rather close to the centerline so I just moved off to the side a bit and kept an eye on him. Then I noticed that the dumb *** inside was busy with his car radio and coming onto my side of the road! First reaction was to swerve out and I don't know what happened but he must of realized something was wrong and then he moved back onto his side. Before I drove my BGL was 9mmol/l, when I got home and tested it was 7.4mmol/l, but then again, I did have a correctional dose at 8:30AM.

The thing is, you keep seeing all these safety ads about how a diabetic is an increased risk on the road, and today I just thought and came to the conclusion that it is complete bull, in my opinion diabetic drivers are amongst the safest, since we are constantly making sure we don't crash otherwise it is more than just the crash, it is sugar problems afterwards, and most likely you will have severe problems because of sugars and not the crash itself.

I think they should really reconsider who puts other people at risk on the roads, as it certainly is not a diabetic driver! Even when I am acting as a pilot behind the controls of an aircraft, I make less stupid mistakes than otherwise "normal" pilots. Who puts others more at risk, the diabetic who makes sure his/her sugars are completely stable before doing something, and then making sure not to do something stupid which would throw sugars off course, or the bad drivers/pilots who do the dumbest of things and put others at risk?

Rant over :T

[duck]

So there I was, at 10:00AM coming around a bend and I noticed this guy driving rather close to the centerline so I just moved off to the side a bit and kept an eye on him. Then I noticed that the dumb *** inside was busy with his car radio and coming onto my side of the road! First reaction was to swerve out and I don't know what happened but he must of realized something was wrong and then he moved back onto his side. Before I drove my BGL was 9mmol/l, when I got home and tested it was 7.4mmol/l, but then again, I did have a correctional dose at 8:30AM.

The thing is, you keep seeing all these safety ads about how a diabetic is an increased risk on the road, and today I just thought and came to the conclusion that it is complete bull, in my opinion diabetic drivers are amongst the safest, since we are constantly making sure we don't crash otherwise it is more than just the crash, it is sugar problems afterwards, and most likely you will have severe problems because of sugars and not the crash itself.

I think they should really reconsider who puts other people at risk on the roads, as it certainly is not a diabetic driver! Even when I am acting as a pilot behind the controls of an aircraft, I make less stupid mistakes than otherwise "normal" pilots. Who puts others more at risk, the diabetic who makes sure his/her sugars are completely stable before doing something, and then making sure not to do something stupid which would throw sugars off course, or the bad drivers/pilots who do the dumbest of things and put others at risk?

Rant over :T

I understand you are just ranting, but just because you are a responsible driver who also happens to have diabetes, doesn't mean everyone who has diabetes is a responsible driver; certainly, we all have our stories.

But yeah, the amount of distractions we are purposely welcoming into our driving lives is utterly ridiculous now; People want DVDs, super stereos, fishtanks, live TV in their car...I often find myself asking "Remember when driving was about DRIVING?"

[notme]

I understand the frustration of the "diabetic" driver stories. I took a road trip this weekend by myself. Six hours on the road coming and going. Stopped to test, eat and gas the car. Tested each stop. I had no problems and no lows. I did listen to a book on tape....hehehehe duck.

[ant hill]

I'd be happy just to get my licence back, Anyway i have done the required tests so it's now up to the Road Traffic Athority to say yay or nay so $500.00 later we will see. :confused:

[Shawny]

I understand you are just ranting, but just because you are a responsible driver who also happens to have diabetes, doesn't mean everyone who has diabetes is a responsible driver; certainly, we all have our stories.

But yeah, the amount of distractions we are purposely welcoming into our driving lives is utterly ridiculous now; People want DVDs, super stereos, fishtanks, live TV in their car...I often find myself asking "Remember when driving was about DRIVING?"

Now that I have calmed down, and after having a low at 12 noon, (4.3mmol/l, must be a delayed reaction ;) ) I understand where you are coming from, it is all to do with the responsibility of the driver, and not their medical condition, even though it does play a small part. Governments and road agencies should get with the times though, these aren't the early 1940's where insulin was unpredictable and you used a urine tester to tell if you had elevated sugars. Diabetes has become a precise art now, and if you look after yourself (responsibility there again) then you are just as good as anyone else. So why do they pick on people with manageable conditions and not on people who have no responsibility. In the end, that is what it comes down to.

Now, since we had to start over here in Aus, I had to get my learners license again, so if it were a crash, insurance companies would say it is my fault since I am a learner in the first place, and secondly I am a diabetic, which in their minds must have been the pivotal factor in avoiding the crash. This is all hypothetical, but I have heard this sad story from so many diabetic friends that it just can't be ignored.

Anyway, I seem to be ranting again. So let me take a breather.

[1, 2, 3..................., 10]

There, much better now. :D

[duck]

Here in Virginia in the late 90's, there were a string of incidents with Type 1 diabetics causing all manner of issues on the roads; the culmination of which was a trucker who would not pull over after being observed swerving all over the road. After a long chase, and lots of damage, his truck was disabled (I forget how, I think he ran into something) and it took a number of cops to subdue him (and of course, they beat the tar out of him because he was beligerent and resisted arrest--then later he sued for undue force)...

After all that, the Commonwealth of Virginia passed a number of laws that basically say if you are a diabetic and you cause an accident because you are low or otherwise out of control, you lose your license at least one year. Now, you can try and prove you were not low at the time, as VA knows meters keep records, etc. But my point is, it's not the once-volatile insulins that cause driving issues for the most part, its negligence on the driver's part (as many accidents are).

So, stay in control, test before you drive, if you feel weird pull over and test again. It really is that simple, but most of us resist such action. And yeah, it is unfair that the actions of a few reflect on all of us, but that's life I suppose.

[Jill-O]

I live in VA, too. We actually were in an accident in 1997 in Manasass caused by a young diabetic woman. She hit us so hard (rear ended at a light) that the factory installed radio in the dashboard came out and broke my husband's seat (driver) at the base. He had some injuries but is okay now.

Currently, I drive about 100 miles a day Monday - Thursday to go to my office. I was nervous having just recently started insulin but so far so good.

I didn't know if I was supposed to tell our insurance company about the diabetes?

Anyway, below is really my favorite type of "DRIVING" :D It's much more relaxing...

http://www.whinny4me.com/Derby/Derby%20and%20Jill%20Houghton%20Cart.jpg

http://www.whinny4me.com/Lou/Driving%20Lou%20More%20--%20April%2015,%202004%20017.jpg

[duck]

I live in VA, too. We actually were in an accident in 1997 in Manasass caused by a young diabetic woman. She hit us so hard (rear ended at a light) that the factory installed radio in the dashboard came out and broke my husband's seat (driver) at the base. He had some injuries but is okay now.



Where in Manassas?

[Jill-O]

I should know the road, it is a main one. Not Sudley road but the other side of Manassas. There is a grocery store that WAY back when I was a kid was Grand Union. There was an inexpensive furniture store in that shopping center when we had the accident and a small Farrish car dealership on the oposite side of the road. It was in 1995, or 1996, I think. It is near Manassas Park, near Parkside Middle School and the PW Library.

(aren't you glad you aren't needing me to give you driving directions some place? I'm the worst at this stuff!)

[ladytaz]

I didn't know if I was supposed to tell our insurance company about the diabetes?

Anyway, below is really my favorite type of "DRIVING" :D It's much more relaxing...

http://www.whinny4me.com/Derby/Derby%20and%20Jill%20Houghton%20Cart.jpg

http://www.whinny4me.com/Lou/Driving%20Lou%20More%20--%20April%2015,%202004%20017.jpg

I've never heard that we're supposed to tell our insurance companies, and I never have either! LOL I'm not willingly going to let them raise my rates! I've paid in MORE than my share over the last 25 years! LOL

Those pics are SO cute Jill!!! Mini-carraiges! Cool! I've never seen those before! Just the horses.

[Jill-O]

Oh yeah! I am a "driving" junkie!!! I have the one show cart pictured, a wooden easy entry that's pretty enough for shows and then two metal easy entry ones that are great for just having fun.

I have two full size horses, and one fo them drives, but it's a lot more fun to drive a mini. For one thing, the view with them is better than "Rocket's" big red butt in front of me! And they are faster to hook up.

The little "white" mini (who is actually a palomino, and was a stallion in the picture, now a gelding) is only 31" and he can pull my husband and I in the cart for hours when he is in shape. The silver mare is taller and she can easily pull two adults as well of course. We have six minis trained to drive currently, with plans to have a few more trained when we get around to it. One of them is a leopard mare who should look really flashy in the cart. Another is the show gelding in my signature (my favorite horse -- such a momma's boy...).

One really neat thing about driving a horse is that you can take friends with you who want to do something horsey but don't know how to ride or are not physically able to ride. Plus, you can actually have conversations while driving (w/ whoever is in the cart with you). Anytime I have trail riden with friends, it was about impossible to really have conversations, but you can in the cart.

Right now, I own a stallion who is showing from AR. He has recently finished about 6mos of training with a "name brand" trainer who's trained many National Champions. I'm really excited to see how the stallion will do at shows this season. He is a "hot" natured horse when all my other driving horses are very laid back. I'm actually happy I'm not the one driving Destiny at show -- I'd be kinda scared :o

[duck]

I should know the road, it is a main one. Not Sudley road but the other side of Manassas. There is a grocery store that WAY back when I was a kid was Grand Union. There was an inexpensive furniture store in that shopping center when we had the accident and a small Farrish car dealership on the oposite side of the road. It was in 1995, or 1996, I think. It is near Manassas Park, near Parkside Middle School and the PW Library.

(aren't you glad you aren't needing me to give you driving directions some place? I'm the worst at this stuff!)

Route 28/Centreville Road?

[Jill-O]

It may be if that wraps around? If you follow it on down away from Manassas, I do think it eventually bring you to Centreville.

[Nixo]

Know what you mean.I was heading home last night at 12.00am.Doing the speed limit on a road where there are cameras,and had a car up my backside pushing me.He then drove passed me and went through 2 red lights.Irresponsible or what.There are so many idiots out there.Jacqui

[Shawny]

I live in VA, too. We actually were in an accident in 1997 in Manasass caused by a young diabetic woman. She hit us so hard (rear ended at a light) that the factory installed radio in the dashboard came out and broke my husband's seat (driver) at the base. He had some injuries but is okay now.

Well, since 1997 insulins have advanced leaps and bounds. You could say they have turned from the "angry massive teeth monsters" to the "nice fluffy teddy bears." I am the one who gets all aggressive with my NovoRapid treatment (Levemir is another story, make a mess up there and you are stuck with it for a day!) to make sure I stay normal, my mom nearly faints when I take some doses just to keep my BSL below 10. I must be having a growth spurt lately, since it is proving quite difficult to keep my BSL down at the moment.

The thing is, I am very aggressive with my NovoRapid, and if you treat it with respect it will be quite forgiving (most of the time ;) ) and if you do make a mess of it, it only lasts between 2 and 3 hours. But then again, I test upwards of 12 times a day. :T

[mark_in_toronto]

I'm in Toronto, Canada - there was a related story in the paper a couple of weeks ago about a diabetic driver in Vancouver, BC who killed someone when he passed out from a hypo while driving during work hours.

The justice found the man negligent for not testing before he got behind the wheel, and found his company liable (for 6.1 million I believe) for not ensuring their employee wasn't a risk to the general public (i.e. requiring him to see an endo regularly).

I drive at work and made a point of showing this to my boss to let him know I always test before driving to make sure I'm fit to drive (unlike your average drunk driver who doesn't care when they get behind the wheel).

[Shawny]

I'm in Toronto, Canada - there was a related story in the paper a couple of weeks ago about a diabetic driver in Vancouver, BC who killed someone when he passed out from a hypo while driving during work hours.

The justice found the man negligent for not testing before he got behind the wheel, and found his company liable (for 6.1 million I believe) for not ensuring their employee wasn't a risk to the general public (i.e. requiring him to see an endo regularly).

I drive at work and made a point of showing this to my boss to let him know I always test before driving to make sure I'm fit to drive (unlike your average drunk driver who doesn't care when they get behind the wheel).

Yeah, it is a sad fact, there will always be irresponsible people, diabetic or not, who put people at risk for no reason because they believe the checks they must do before driving (or any activity) are too time consuming. The problem when it comes to diabetes is that the checks are mandatory, you can't drive without knowing what your BSL is, no matter how stable you think you have your diabetes, pump or not, doctor or not. The sad thing is, that as is always with the media, they find the negative things and blow them out of proportion. Just like an aircraft crash, it is so rare, that when one does happen, it is on the news for that whole week.

When a crash is caused because of a persons diabetes, then that is again blown out of proportion in the media, and puts a bad light on all diabetics trying to be treated equally who take responsibility for their actions, and make sure that diabetes does not make them an increased risk in any way to anyone else using the road, or like in my case, everyone who flies with me, and every single person who is beneath me while I am flying. I do not want to have diabetes on my mind while flying, or having to wonder if I am ok, and if the people below me are safe. Which is why I test at every opportunity, I make sure I get a BSL trend before driving or flying, and take action, whether it be an insulin shot, or some carbs. I tend to keep my BSL at about 8mmol/l while flying, I have just over 6 hours flying experience now, and fast approaching my solo, and there has not been a single incident, most of the time, I get into the plane with a BSL of 8, and get out with it having moved just 1mmol/l up or down. Most of my flights are an hour long now, and they are starting to get longer, so in-flight checking will become necessary now.

Then again, a type 2 diabetic crashed his plane down in Brisbane not long ago, and the media immediately pinned it on his diabetes, they had no other facts, only that he was diabetic. Soon after there were many magazine articles and news reports on whether a diabetic, type 1 or 2, can be considered safe to fly an aircraft as pilot in command. A couple of months later it was found that it was not the pilots diabetes at all, and it was something completely out of his control. But the scar the media caused still lives on today, I still get asked by other students if I am actually legally allowed to fly, even though my chief flight instructor and I tell them repeatedly that I am legally allowed to, and that even the flight school monitors my BSL now, which is a pain, but it is in the best interest of everyone, in the air and on the ground.

So, as I close this long, long, long post off, it is an unfortunate fact that all diabetics are judged against those who are irresponsible.