Driving Safety and Real-Time Glucose Monitoring in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

Key findings:

- In this multi-national study (7 US sites and 4 European sites), 1036 individuals with type 1, type 2 and controls were surveyed for their driving mishaps.

- 19% of people with type 1 diabetes and 12% of people with type 2 diabetes reported having at least one auto crash in the past 2 years compared to 8% in the control group.

- 15% of people with type 1 diabetes reported moving vehicle violation in the past 2 years compared to 8% in people with type 2 diabetes

- 18% of people with type 1 diabetes reported episodes of hypoglycemia stupor while driving (severe low blood sugar).

- Three factors contributed significantly to higher probability for crashes: experiencing more episodes of low blood sugar while driving, performing blood glucose monitoring less frequently before driving and taking insulin by subcutaneous injection.

Conclusion: low blood sugar related automobile mishaps are very common in people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes (type 1 diabetes > type 2 diabetes)