There is a continuing debate concerning the crash risk of persons with insulin-treated diabetes. This debate often centers on the determination of appropriate licensing policy for drivers with insulin-treated diabetes, particularly with respect to commercial vehicles. Regulatory authorities around the world differ in the rules applied to insulin-treated drivers. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and the opportunity for sudden impairment is the medical factor most frequently cited with regard to road crashes among drivers with diabetes. Severe forms of hypoglycemia can result in sudden impairment, and in some situations, loss of consciousness. The crash risks related to hypoglycemia, however, are not well identified in the literature. This research investigates the association between motor vehicle crashes and self-reported hypoglycemia in a well defined, population-based, cohort of persons with Type I diabetes. (Author/publisher)
Abstract