| Because hypoglycemia can effect your driving | | | | be a cheese sandwich that contains either 1 |
| performance (even modestly low blood sugar | | | | or 2 slices of bread, a cheese that is low |
| can do this), if you are at all prone to | | | | fat or turkey low in fat but not fat free. |
| hypoglycemia, I personally would strongly | | | | The protein and fat does help to stablize |
| recommend you check out your blood sugar | | | | your blood sugar over a period of time |
| level each time you are about to drive.Prior | | | | instead of a quick spike in your blood sugar |
| to you putting the key in the ignition, test | | | | and a quick drop in blood sugar like juice |
| your blood sugar. There are some great | | | | would do.During your trip if you need to take |
| glucometers out there, like the Accu-Check | | | | an insulin injection or an oral blood sugar |
| Compact with the Accu-Check Multi-clix lancet | | | | medication, then make sure you eat as |
| pen.The Accu-Check Compact has a 17 strip | | | | prescibed with your medication, otherwise |
| drum inside so you don't have to take any | | | | your blood sugar can go low. I will be |
| extra strips with you. The Accu-Check | | | | writing about how insulin and certain oral |
| Multi-clix lancet pen has a drum that | | | | blood sugar medications can make your sugar |
| automatically holds 6 lancets within the pen | | | | go low. Not all insulin, esp. Lantus, or oral |
| to use quickly and easily. Again, you won't | | | | diabetic medications make your blood sugar |
| have to bring any lancets separately with | | | | low.Signs of Hypoglycemia:**Cold sweat, |
| you. If your blood sugar is low, treat | | | | faintness, dizziness |
| yourself to some juice or hard candy and | | | | |
| don't drive until your blood sugar is back to | | | | **Headache |
| normal. Usually 80 mg/dl and higher you | | | | |
| should feel better. Then try and eat a small | | | | **Pounding of heart, trembling, nervousness |
| meal, like a low fat cheese and/or turkey | | | | |
| sandwich.Usually in 15 minutes taking 15-20 | | | | **blurred vision |
| grams of Carbohydrate (CHO) will usually | | | | |
| bring up your blood sugar to normal range. | | | | **hunger |
| You can have a 4-6 ounce glass of juice, | | | | |
| glucose tablets or 2-3 pieces of hard candy. | | | | **Irritability |
| Don't overdo it because your blood sugar will | | | | |
| then go sky high. If it doesn't return within | | | | **Personality Change |
| normal limits in 15 minutes, repeat the 15-20 | | | | |
| grams of CHO and then check your blood sugar | | | | **Not able to awakenNow you can also have |
| in 15 minutes.Usually if your blood sugar is | | | | problems driving if your blood sugar is over |
| above 80 mg/dl, you should feel fine but | | | | 200 mg/dl. My father got in an accident |
| sometimes going above 100 mg/dl, you'll feel | | | | because his blood sugar was over 200, he was |
| better. You should always follow with a small | | | | becoming confused and at the same time had a |
| meal that contains CHO, protein that contains | | | | Urinary Tract Infection. The police officer |
| a small amount of fat.Always make sure you | | | | told me that a diabetic's license can be |
| have something to eat right within reach in | | | | revoked if an accident is caused by diabetes. |
| the car (not in the trunk!). I tell my father | | | | I don't know if that is true but why risk |
| to put 2-3 peppermint candy right in his | | | | losing your license altogether if this is the |
| pocket and have a supply of hard candy or | | | | case.If you were going to be driving for any |
| peppermint candy always stashed in his car.It | | | | sort of extended time, every so often find an |
| is best if you eat 6-8 small meals a day. | | | | appropriate place to pull across and retest |
| This would include a CHO, protein food that | | | | your blood. When it comes to driving: if in |
| contains a little fat included. Example would | | | | doubt, check out your blood sugar & eat! |