Diabetics Are At No Greater Risk While Driving
Posted on: Monday, 12 May 2008, 13:55 CDT
Research shows that people with diabetes who use insulin have no more car accidents than those without the condition.Some government experts believe that people with diabetes are a greater risk on the road as the potential for complications such as fainting are more likely.
But Diabetes UK, a charity for those suffering from the condition, says the finding suggest restrictions on driver’s licenses for diabetics that may be unfair. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) did not comment.
Hypoglycemia, a condition that can cause confusion and loss of consciousness, is common in diabetics that fail to properly control their blood sugar levels.
This can result in tighter restrictions in the UK for those driving larger vehicles and some passenger carrying vehicles.
However, a team at Plymouth's Peninsula Medical School, found the rate of road traffic collisions in patients with insulin treated diabetes was lower - at 957 accidents per 100,000 people - than those who did not have the condition (1,469/100,000).
No significant difference was found in accident rates between the two groups at any specific age.
"We wanted to look at the assumption that people with insulin-treated diabetes might be more likely to cause road traffic accidents because they have an increased risk of hypoglycemia,” said researcher Dr . Kathryn Lonnen.
They found that the group as a whole posed no such risk—implying that insulin is not a good surrogate of increased risk.
"Of course it is still essential to have individual risk based assessment for people with diabetes, insulin treated or not, to make sure that their driving experience remains safe and hazard-free," said Lonnen.
Simon O'Neill, of Diabetes UK, said that as long as the diabetes is well controlled and there are no complications that would impair someone's safety as a driver then “there is no reason why people with diabetes should not be issued with a license.”
Current driving restrictions for diabetics in the UK keep them from becoming bus drivers or lorry drivers and it is expected that some might be prevented from becoming taxi drivers due to local authorities' policies. These restrictions clearly affect the livelihood of those with diabetes.
Diabetes UK recommends that people with diabetes check their blood glucose levels before they get behind the wheel (and regularly during journeys) to avoid having a hypoglycemic episode.
It is also recommended that diabetics avoid long or stressful trips if they are tired and that they consult their doctor if they are concerned about driving.
People who have just started taking insulin that have difficulty recognizing the early symptoms of hypoglycemia, have a problem with their eyesight that cannot be corrected by glasses or have numbness or weakness in the limbs from neuropathy (diabetic nerve damage) should not drive, the charity advised.
In the UK, diabetics treated with insulin are required by law to inform the DVLA as soon as they are diagnosed.
The same is also required of those who take tablets for the condition and have a related complication such as the eye condition retinopathy.
---
On the Net:
Peninsula Medical School
Diabetes UK
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Source: redOrbit Staff and Wire Reports
Rating: 2.0 / 5 (2 votes)
 |
 |
Rate this article:
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds