Diabetic Driving Can Be... Deadly?

Driving comes with many responsibilities and dangers. And as a (finally) licensed sixteen year old, I have come to realize how dangerous and scary the road can be! With cars swinging and swerving all over the place, hundreds of pedestrians on the street, and car accidents daily, driving has done its fair share to scare me.

However, being a diabetic and driving can be even more dangerous!! For example, if my blood sugar were ever to go low while I was driving, it could cause me to lose control of the car because of poor/lack of good judgement and hurt myself and others!


With that said, I thought I'd write a post about what diabetics should do to ensure safety while driving, and teach non-diabetics about what I do as a diabetic driver!

Watch out everyone! 

How to stay safe on the roads as a diabetic driver! 

1. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS bring Dexcom!

• I often post a lot of advice, tips, and tricks on my blog. However, the most important and best piece of advice I can give any diabetic out there who is reading this is to always bring your Dexcom with you. Make sure to also turn up the low volume sound to alert you when it hits 100. This is so important because it elimantes you from being distracted or having to constantly check your blood sugar. In addition, I'm not sure about you, but I was pretty nervous when I first started driving; with that said, I didn't realize notice when my blood sugar dropped because I wasn't paying attention. With the Dexcome by your side, it will ring and alert you LOUDLY, meaning you can be safe and have a good blood sugar to ensure you drive safely! 

• When you hear the Dexcom go off, PULL OVER. The great thing about having it alert you at 100 is that you don't have to be too worried or stressed once it beeps, but at least it gives to time to pull over safely to check your blood sugar or eat a snack! The Dexcom is a lifesaver and no diabetic should be driving without one!

**Tip: Make sure your blood sugar is at least 120 (flat) or 100 and going diagonally upward. If it is below that, there is a greater chance of it going down quickly, meaning you will have to pull over to fix it, eat something, etc.!**

2. Emergency snacks

• This tip may seem like a given. However, I know that I often forget to pack snacks for school and when I go out and about, which can be dangerous; with that said, I knew I might forget to pack snacks in the car for driving emergencies. But driving is more important! It is extremely important for all diabetics to have snacks - juice box, tablets, gummies - in their car incase of an emergency! If anything goes wrong and you are stuck in the middle of nowhere, you need snacks to drive to a safe place! It is crucial to have snacks in the car with you! 
• Put the snacks in easy to access places, such as the glove compartment or cup holder, in case your blood sugar happens to go down fast it is easy to access and eat even if you are driving. 

**Tip: Have at least 40-50 grams of fast acting/carb-y snacks in the car! Two packs of gummies, a juicebox, or a bottle of tablets should be sufficient!**

3. Know your limits

• The last piece of advice I am going to leave on here is it know your limits. I know that there is a lot of pressure with being a teenager. With that said, if you, as a diabetic know that you aren't feeling well or your blood sugars have been off, do not drive. It is not worth it, and by doing that you are letting diabetes ruin your life! Please do not do that to yourself, your friends, your family, and all of your loved ones in general. 

**Tip: If you aren't diabetic, this tip still applies to you! Please be safe on the roads and do not put anyone else's life in danger!**