Type 1 diabetes and car accident risk
15 August 2003
Overseas researchers have advised all people with type 1 diabetes to check their blood glucose before driving and during breaks in longer trips, after their study found the condition is linked to an increased risk of car accidents.
Of the 736 people involved in the study, those with type 1 diabetes had significantly more crashes or traffic violations than people with type 2 diabetes or their spouses without diabetes.
Crashes were associated with less frequent blood glucose monitoring before driving and the use of insulin injection therapy rather than insulin pump therapy.
'A set of guidelines for patients with type 1 diabetes might include one, measure blood glucose before driving and at intervals during long drives, [and] two, not begin driving when blood glucose is less than 5 mmol/L,' the researchers concluded (Diabetes Care 2003; 26: 2329-34).
Associate Professor Glenn Ward, president of the Australian Diabetes Society, said the recommendations were 'very sensible', but they needed to be tailored to suit individual patients and situations.
'Doctors ... need to look at the person, work out what problems they have and make their recommendations based on the individual,' Professor Ward said.
The Australian guidelines 'Assessing Fitness to Drive' (2nd edition) for holders of private vehicle licenses do not recommend that people with type 1 diabetes should monitor their blood glucose before driving.
Instead, they say that patients should be advised against driving if the condition is poorly managed or if the patient complies poorly with therapy.
New guidelines are expected later this year.
Footnote: 'Assessing Fitness to Drive' (3rd edition) has now been published on the Austroads website.
Last Reviewed: 15 August 2003
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 15/8/03
