Driving among diabetic patients is an important issue as a large percentage of the US population has the disease. People often need a driver’s license to work, and it becomes their source of income. Besides, the ability to get around by car is necessary for many daily functions, such as taking care of the family, going to the store, or seeing friends. In many regions of the country, there are no alternative means of transportation. There is a preconceived opinion in society against people with diabetes that they cannot be reliable drivers. However, diabetic drivers are not a threat to other road users and are usually skilled at driving.
The ability to perform the actions required to drive safely is supported by licensing regulations for diabetes people who usually obtain the required licenses. These regulations differ from state to state; sometimes, when a person reports a diabetes-related problem that may affect driving safety during licensing, this may result in restrictions on the driver’s license. It can also lead to the fact that a person will be prohibited from driving a certain vehicle, such as school buses or other vehicles carrying passengers or hazardous materials. Typically, drivers’ health is checked every two years as part of an ongoing assessment for a job requiring commercial driving (American Diabetes Association, 2013). This approach brings order and safety to the roads since, in case of the disease deterioration, the driver will not obtain a license and become a threat to road users.
When undergoing a medical examination, drivers are usually tested to understanding diabetes and readiness to control their condition. To help diabetic drivers feel comfortable and safe on the road, scientists suggest that drivers wear sensors that determine their physiology and health (Merickel et al., 2019). This approach can be successful because driving requires attention, and the driver cannot be distracted by assessing his health. Such an approach can support drivers and free their attention for control in case of possible unforeseen accidents on the road. Notably, during hypoglycemia, the physiological responses of people with diabetes can be dulled, so constant monitoring of the condition may be necessary.
References
American Diabetes Association. (2013). Diabetes and driving. Diabetes Care, 36(1), pp. 80-85.
Merickel, J., High, R., Smith, L., Wichman, C., Frankel, E., Smits, K., & Rizzo, M. (2019). Driving safety and real-time glucose monitoring in insulin-dependent diabetes. International Journal of Automotive Engineering, 10(1), 34-40.