Diabetes can increase the risk of car accidents. For patients, better information on the subject is necessary, according to a BVA study.
At the wheel, the disease constitutes a real danger for road users. Driver performance can be greatly affected. In anticipation of World Diabetes Day, November 14, a survey BVA for theRoad Safety Association and the MSD France laboratory reveals the difficulties encountered by a large number of diabetic motorists.
A quarter of people with diabetes would have already felt a symptom of hypoglycaemia while driving, with the potential to affect driving. 42% of them evoked vision problems, tremors, or difficulties in judging distances or concentrating, in 39% of cases.
Proportion of diabetics having had
a symptom of hypoglycemia while driving
Source: Christophe Ramond/Road Prevention Association
Faced with these problems, diabetics generally exercise caution and implement driving practices that limit accidents. In 60% of cases, they take regular breaks to eat, take food with them, and above all, they test their blood sugar levels before leaving and to define the most suitable times for their departure.
Information deficit
Positive attitudes towards road safety should not overshadow the efforts that still need to be made. To encourage diabetics who are not well aware of the risks associated with driving, better communication is needed.
There lies the problem: patients seem to lack information. Less than one out of two sufferers said they had received advice about driving and how to adapt it. 42% consider themselves to be ill-informed of the risks and nearly three-quarters say they are unaware of the regulations in force and the conduct to adopt to ensure their safety and that of other passengers.
To remedy this situation, the role of the attending physician is crucial. 66% of patients believe that it is the best suited to answer their questions on the subject. They are therefore less at ease than with a medical specialist, since only 20% of them would turn to the latter for advice on driving.
The general practitioner is therefore the best person to contact to remind you of some practical rules to observe while driving: measure your blood sugar every two hours, avoid giving a quick injection of insulin just before driving… and always have hand a little sweet snack.
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