Car Accident

[Cinnabon]

:( Hey everyone...
I feel REALLY lousy right now. I just came home after having a car accident. The accident was violating the right of way, I hit the passenger on her passenger side, no one sitting there. I was having a sever HYPO, passed out for a matter of 2-3 sec . and bang. My daughter was in the car, nothing happened to us. I got off the car making sure she was alright, I explained I was diabetic. The Rescue was there immediately checked my BS "34"! He gave me Gluca-stick 15 and advised me to simply take a little or I would be paying for it later!!! So I did , they couldn't leave till it was higher than 60. I was at 106. I got the ticket of course and apologized to the lady so much. She was ok and simply said to please be careful. I have cried sooo much, I am slowly loosing control of my life.

[rzrbks]

Cinnabon,

I'm truly glad that no one was hurt.

This is the very thing that could happen to any one of us.

My routine ( for what it's worth) is to check before I start to drive somewhere and if I'm not above 90/5 then I take/eat/drink something. Next, depending on how long/far I've got to drive I try and keep a close eye on where I am.

It was just a bad day, accept that all of us are going to have them, pat yourself on the pat, give yourself a hug and forgive yourself.

[CarlyesHope]

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, but this is not losing control of your life. It was an accident, and accidents happen to everyone, diabetic or not.

chalk it up to a bad day, treat yourself to "something special" (whatever that might be for you) and remember, tomorrow is a new day!

to make you laugh, I'll tell you about my most embarassing accident. I was driving through a parking lot, and there was a sign, in the parking lot that said "form one line" it was a huge sign, made of wood sitting on the ground. I read the sign out loud, and i was staring at the sign - - then i plowed right into the thing, dead center of my car, like i never even saw it. I have no idea what on earth i was thinking or doing. I needed a new pumper, a new hood and a new windshield.... can we said dumba$$?? See, yours doesn't seem so bad now does it, at least you have an excuse, your a diabetic, you were having a low. I am not, and I wasn't.....

Cheer Up, things will get better!

Kelly

[lgvincent]

It's a sad thing but at least no one was hurt. Everything will be okay. Just be sure to check your blood sugar before (and while) driving.

[HeatherP]

What a terrifying experience Cinnabon! I'm glad to hear nobody got hurt - and that really is the most important thing.

There's a reason they call them "accidents", and we all have them. I rear-ended a woman a couple of years ago cause I looked down for just a sec and BAM. Like Rzr said, forgive yourself.

From now on you might want to consider cking your sugar before you get in the car, and on longer trips maybe pull over from time to time to ck your b/s. I'm sure that this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime types of things. Have a good cry and let out your emotions. You'll probably feel like this for a few days and that's okay. Just don't let it cripple you.

Hugs, and take care
HeatherP

[Cinnabon]

Once again... Thank you so much. Thats just the thing I have gotten used to checking it just like that and a minute before pulling out it was fine, then all of a sudden.......... bang!, the paramedic found me at 34!

[duck]

...any accident that you (and others) can walk away from is a 'good' accident. When that is not true, you'll understand.

Listen: Many states have passed laws that require automatic revocation of license for a diabetic who drives while "out of control". This is serious business now, too many accidents/too many incidents where cops have been put at danger trying to subdue a paranoid/low diabetic in a dangerous weapon most of us call cars. Find out what the law is in your state, and if you need to, get a lawyer. Seriously.

This ****ed disease...When I was driving back and forth from home to work in MD (about 45 miles or as much as two hours) I would check my sugars twice before leaving: 45 minutes before, and a few minutes before starting the car...I needed to see if the trend was up or down or stable. If down, I ate. We just can't take chance at highways speeds.

Again, if no one was hurt, it's water under that bridge over troubled waters!

[Cielo]

Awwe, don't feel down! Stuff like this happens to everyone. At least you have a good reason. A lot of other people don't have good reasons and get in accidents b/c they were driving aggressively or not paying attention or whatever. Don't worry about it, you were being responsible in that you did check your sugars before driving. There was nothing you could have done. :p

Kelly you're story is HYSTERICAL! Good Work!! Hope nobody was watching. :cool:

[camjen1]

Oh no I hope it had nothing to do with going to Walmart. I am sooooooo glad everyone is fine. As duck says they are getting stricter when it comes to an accident caused by a diabetic who is low. IMO that is absurd. As we talked before sometimes we cannot feel low up until it is dangerously low.

I browse thru a legal forum now and then and I found a person who was explaining an accident she had with a diabetic driver and that this isn't the first time this diabetic driver had an accident because of his disease. She made it sound like he was driving drunk or that he was on stoned on illegal drugs. People who are not diabetic assume we get in our car knowing we are not fit to drive. Driving drunk and being low are 2 different things. Yes, they might have the same effects but you choose to drink and drive you don't choose to go low and drive. :mad:

Cheer up, relax and put this behind you. It can't be any worse then having this darn disease.

[Cinnabon]

My License does state Im INSULIN DEPENDENT but the car accident did not say a thing about me being low... Hmmm

[Cinnabon]

"Oh no I hope it had nothing to do with going to Walmart."

Actually yes, so please help me pay my deductible, (lol) They didnt have them here on sale...

[camjen1]

Well now I feel left out, my license doesn't say insulin dependent. Maybe that's a good thing.

If they want to suspend your license then you argue back that out of 22 years of having this disease it has only happened once, but I highly doubt anything will happen. Heck there is a man that lives near me that is 104 and still DRIVES.:eek:

[camjen1]

"Oh no I hope it had nothing to do with going to Walmart."

Actually yes, so please help me pay my deductible, (lol) They didnt have them here on sale...



sniffle sniffle sniffle sniffle can we make that 2 people with a bad day now LOL

[Cinnabon]

I was just teasing you. (thats will be $ 125.00 <1/2 of deduct.> + 1 A1C at $5.50= $130.50) CASH ONLY PLEASE! ;)

[camjen1]

hehehehehe :thumbsup:

[Lee73]

Cinnabon,

So sorry to hear about the accident. I am really glad that you, your daughter and the other driver were not hurt. Phew. Accidents are extremely scary, no matter what. Don't be so hard on yourself. They happen to the best of us, diabetes or no diabetes.

Thought I would cheer you up with a few of my own accident stories (all my fault):

Drove straight into a large SUV in a parking lot. Completely did not see it, even though my vision is 20/20 and the SUV was at least 3 times the size of my economy car.

First day in Amsterdam, riding a bike with some friends.....rode right infront of a fast moving taxi. Flew up into the air on impact (no helmut....bad move), bike crunched under taxi, landed a few feet away, badly shaken, but un hurt. Did my best to straighten out the bike (actually worked) and rode off leaving the taxi driver swearing in dutch.

Those two were the scariest because I simply didn't see them coming, but there have been others.

On that note, I am sure you will all be glad to know that I don't drive any more. Only walk, take public transportation and use my bike (with caution).

Big hug to you Cinnabon. Hope your day improves.

Lee

[Sparkle]

Hi Glad you are Ok anyway.

Why do you think it dropped in a matter of seconds/minutes? Too much insulin? Too little to eat? ?

Bit of a fear having it happen while driving - over here they report it to your Dr and it can go against you. We have to apply every 3 years and they ask for a Dr's report unfortunately before you get it renewed.

Prob won't ever happen again so try and not worry too much.

[Cinnabon]

I think too much insulin, even though I took my regular dose. I had eaten my breakfast and a bit more. I tested before going into the store, although I carry my meter w/ me, it was 62, so I told my daughter I'm going straight for some sugar. Ate some sugar, bought my stuff, got in the car and tested again, still eating too. I was ok. I am curious and intend to find out what the laws are in Florida. As far as my doc reporting, I DON"T THINK SO! I called him about my dawn phenomenon 3 weeks ago, still haven't heard from him. :mad:

Just a scary situation. My insurance is taking care of it already.. and I will get ready to pay more $$!! LOL

[am1977]

So sorry to hear about your little acident...I know how scary that can be :eek: . But on the positive side, I'm very glad and relieved to hear that you are ok. That's what is most important. Some of the accidents I've passed by haven't been as lucky as you. So yes it's sucks and it's a huge pain in the a$$ that you had to have this happen, but at least you are able to get up and walk away from it.

Take care and drive safely :)

[Karon]

Sorry to hear about your accident Cinnabon. I'm sure it was very scary for you, but at least nobody was hurt. It must have been frightening for you that you went so low so quickly, but you did check before driving and then corrected with something to eat. You did the right things and need to remember that.

Karon

[Eri's mom]

Sorry to hear about the accident Cinnabon, but thank God nobody was hurt!!!

Weird, on my way into the pizzeria, I was driving behind this girl, and the one light(turning into a Walmart plaza...lol...seriously)...was yellow and getting ready to turn...both the girl ahead of me and the lady in the left turn lane went to beat the light and they slammed right into each other...nobody was hurt, they were both walking around their cars checking out the damage.

Again, glad nobody was hurt!!! Have an awesome night :)

[nantomsuethom]

(((((Cinnabon)))))
I am so sorry to hear of your accident and thankfully no one was hurt. I do not have diabetes but do go hypo at times, and while driving. I keep a bottle of glucose tabs in the cup holder and always eat one or more when driving any distance.
Hopefully you wont be too sore tomorrow. That's when it usually kicks in.
BTW, my walmart didn't have any deals either.

[Cinnabon]

Could Walmart have anything to do with this? :eek:

[camjen1]

If anyone comes a lookin, you've never seen me. I'm outta here!! LMAO

[Eri's mom]

LOL....the mighty wallyworld jinx...at least nobody is getting hurt!!! :)

[soremom]

I have had one bad low while driving. I remember getting into the care, 5 blocks from home, and planning on going there. Never made it. Was found an hour later in front of my parents. It was July, had the care off, windows up and my then 2 year old in the car seat. He was so out of it, my parents didn't even realize he was in the car for awhile (I believe till help started showing up). I remember the paramedic saying we each had about 15 more minutes left. It sticks with you, it still bothers me to this day. But we are both fine, he don't quit.

After going to the doctor because of the low. She told me not to drive if my bgs are below 100. I was to check each and ever time I drive. With being back on the pump I have had no more problems with lows but I still test before I drive. If it is a long drive or I feel funny. My son (oldest) helps me test while I am driving. He loves it, gets to stick me.

I am glad everyone is alright. You probably will always feel bad about this, and bother you for awhile, but it turned out good. Do what I did and learn from it. It was a big eye opener. (that sounds way harsher than I mean, I was putting myself down).

I even had the police officer that responded driving the ambulance, with my mother in the passanger seat :eek: , and nothing happened with my license. I was worried though, this cop is a pain in the royal a$$.

Kim

[Cinnabon]

All of you, once again, have brought my spirits up. I will definitely have this fresh on my mind. I just feel real icky about it. I'll feel like this for a long time.

Kim,
This must have been scary, My Blood sugars were still going crazy till now from the Glucose they gave me. I can't wait to hear from my insurance on the pump status. My dad was real scared and doesn't want me to drive anymore :( I can understand him. It will take me a while till I feel better but without you guy, I probably would have still been crying!

[Poe]

Sorry to hear about the accident and the reason why.

I was also fortunate not to have been in an accident but was pulled over by cops thinking I was DWI. My son was 9 or 10 at the time and was with me at the time He repeatedly said to the cops "he needs sugar, give him sugar". Later that evening I received a call from the cop who stopped me and though he was checking my health warned me that NJ can revoke my license if they find me to be careless/wreckless with repeated incidents. It put a scare in us all. That was about 8 years ago and I'm overy cautious now.

I do check now and have told my wife on occasion that she MUST drive until I can get the bg up. She says I'm a pita but knows I'm playing it safe.

Check before you drive and if possible pull over when you feel the lows coming on.

[Cinnabon]

I totally agree with you, and I did exactly that. This happened in a matter of seconds

[zookeeper671]

Yikes. So sorry to hear of what happened! (I just now tuned in.) As bad as that was, it could have been much worse... you're actually quite lucky (as nutty as that sounds).

(((Hugs)))

[Cinnabon]

www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/drivers/pvt-driverslicenses.jsp


This for Florida
Has the state adopted specific policies about whether people with diabetes are allowed to drive?

No. Florida has specific guidelines for certain medical conditions, and at one time had diabetes guidelines. However, these guidelines have been repealed.

[soremom]

Cinnabon, my brother is a state trooper here and threatened that if something like that happened again he would pull my license. I know he meant well and that he had a good point, but I was glad he wasn't living close to me, I wouldn't have a low to blame when I was done with him.

I am glad that you are feeling better today. It seems that when I had severe lows like that it would take almost 24 hrs to feel human again and get everything back to normal.

Kim

[gettingby]

Cinnabon,
I'm so sorry about your accident. I'm also sorry that it has taken me this long to respond but if you read my thread in Chit Chat, I think you will understand why.
My Dr. doesn't want me to drive if my bg is below 100. This is just the way he is with his diabetic patients. I don't know much about the laws here in NC but I have passed out from a low bg in the parking lot of the gas station. Great group of people there. Got the paramedics there immediately and wasn't worried about when I would get back to pick up my car or pay for my gas !! LOL :D (Of course, I went back as soon as I left the ER and paid them. Picked up my car a few hours later.).