What range are your BGS before driving a vehicle?

[SunniD]

I always hear of lawsuits involving diabetics driving
and if they are at fault it's always a question of were
they looking after themselves properly and what
was their bgs before they got behind the wheel of
the car??

Just wanted to know what others think but I believe
that ones glucose must be above 3.0 mmol/L(54 mg/dl)
to drive a vehicle competently. If you're below that
level then you must do the 'Rule of 15' or 3 glucose 5 gm
tablets and wait 15 mins. and retest your bgs till it is
above 3.0 mmol/L or 54 mg/dl.

Anyone have any different opinions about driving or
how long before you drive should a bg be taken??
Comments anyone??

SunniD

[lgvincent]

I won't drive with my blood sugar that low. I prefer it to be around 100 but I want it to be at least 80.

[David]

I agree. I want my BG level WAY above 54 before I start driving. I might be around 80 for a trip to the store, but above 100 for a longer drive with testing every 2 hours.
David

[SunniD]

The 3.0 mmol/L was given to me by a diabetic educator and it's an opinion -I don't know if there is anything legal other than within normal ranges. Thanks for the comments. I am ok at
3.0 mmol/L to drive but higher would of course be better.
I seem to recall my diabetic boss also believed she was ok to
drive when she was hitting the curbs on both sides of the street
at nite.<smile> It's a fine line for sure when it comes to being
legally responsible for an accident in which someone else was injured. I would like to think that one checked their bgs each time before driving and made sure it's high enough before they got
behind the wheel of a car. It would sure help lots in courts
as we are legally responsible for our actions. Thanks once again
for the comments as it's good to keep it in mind and check our bgs before we drive.


Hi David -long time no see. Hope you are doing well.
Is the Expo coming shortly in your neck of the woods?

SunniD

[gettingby]

My CDE doesn't want me driving if mine is below 100.

[KLD]

My CDE doesn't want me driving if mine is below 100.
I think that's a little extreme. Mine never go above 100 or below 70 - it sounds as though he's suggesting that well-controlled diabetics shouldn't be allowed to drive.

Karen

[gettingby]

Originally posted by KLD
I think that's a little extreme. Mine never go above 100 or below 70 - it sounds as though he's suggesting that well-controlled diabetics shouldn't be allowed to drive.

Karen
No Karen. That is not what he is trying to say. He just feels more comfortable when my levels are at that number. My control fluctuates somewhat. It's just his opinion for me, not anyone else.
Cin

[KLD]

Sorry about that Cin. You did say that, but I misunderstood and was quite shocked.

Karen

[gettingby]

No worries, no harm. Maybe I should have explained it a little better the first time. LOL
Cin:)

[rzrbks]

Shucks,

I've ridden with me when I was below 3/54 --------------It's Very Scary.

[soremom]

My dr does not want me driving below 100. This was pre pump and having lows that hit out of nowhere. Now that I am back on the pump and have not had a problem with lows, I still test before I drive and have it above 100. I can't remember where I was reading it, but in an article it state that a diabetic should not drive if the level was below 100. It was more a safety issue so that you would not go low driving and not realize it.

I have also read that if you cause an accident or injury someone while driving with lows, depending on the severity you can be charged with what ever is appropriate (compared to DUI) and ticketed, also could lose your license.

I am not saying this is set in stone, but I read all of this after I passed out in my car. It was stopped but came very close to losing both myself and my son. I can understand why they want it up 100.

Kim

[KLD]

So it sounds like your doctor's recommendation was meant for your individual circumstances too, Kim, like Cin's - for people who are subject to big fluctuations. I assume it wouldn't apply in a case like mine, where I never fluctuate outside a normal bg range.

Karen

[smwest8680]

My brother is a police officer and I am not sure if it is the same everywhere but here if you are pulled over and your blood sugar is below 100 then you can be fined. Also this was confirmed by the police officers that work security for my husbands company.

Summer

[lgvincent]

You mean a person is a criminal because of their blood sugar level?

[christie]

that does'nt sound too right to me,because i have checked my sugars before driving and if traffic would stress me out my sugars would drop(this was before lantus),sometimes it is'nt your fault if it drops,mine could drop and i'd swear i was fine even if it was'nt.it is not easy or safe at times to stop and check if you are by yourself,i always try to be a little bit on the high side if driving for a while.