I have never experienced a low sugar like this, she isn’t sweating and seems way more confused than I have experienced.
But this is why insurance is so difficult to get for us, especially us type 1.
This video is what they are thinking when they get a diabetic driver applying for insurance.
That’s why I answer the question “no”.
The question changes from year to year.
This past one was “ do you have any medical or physical limitation that would cause you to lose consciousness or lose control?
So I can say “no” to this because it’s never happened.
They used to ask do you have diabetes or use insulin?”
I’m sure every state has it worded differently.
But this lady does scare me.
YOU NEED CGM LADY!
I was actually told it’s ok to say no, and I don’t drive without a number that can either safely drop or, without being sure of my BG. However, I need cataract surgery. My cataracts actually made my RX better (distortion I guess). I went to renew my license, not knowing my RX was way too strong. Didn’t pass the test (she wouldn’t let me see 20/40 either on their machine) and after he changed my RX I was given a medical form/ok to submit for my renewal and he wrote diabetic in giant letters. Now, I don’t drive at night and I know I need surgery. It’s ok for him to restrict to no night driving and uses corrective glasses. . I’m on their wait list for that surgery. But I don’t like him adding diabetes to this document I’m supposed to give. No assistance needed with a low for 55 years type I so…
You’re in CA (I’m in OR); I’ve never ever had a problem getting auto insurance in the US because in both states it would seem to be a right! (Unlike, curiously, health insurance.)
I can assure you that getting insurance in the UK in my earlier years was not easy; getting a driving (English speak here) license was not easy; medical exam required. Insurance, just pay-da-money, loads-a-money; expensive.
Nevertheless apart from your polemic I agree and I have to admit I’m not about to live in CA; the OR DMV is an existential joy compared to CA (only 20 miles away) despite the fact that I had to stand in line (like waiting for a coffee - they notified me on my ‘cell) for several hours just to be told I didn’t need an eye test and have my photo’ taken. Oh, we did have a discussion about my hair colour.
Damn it. Normally I delete these posts before I submit them but in this case my own rules for myself might help someone:
o Yes: I use a CGM. I don’t trust it but I do use it. I don’t drive if it says less than 100mg/dL(US), or if it says falling rapidly or if I know my BG is going low (much more common!) Every diabetic should have a CGM if they want one.
o I don’t drive over 200mg/dL. I don’t know if that affects my reaction times but I do know that when I hit 250mg/dL I’m irritable. I feel my judgement is affected and I’ve driven in extreme driving conditions that really scared me (the M25); I don’t want to die yet.
o With a CGM (i.e. this doesn’t help if you aren’t allowed one) I drive with the monitor on the dash. I do this by invoking “Google Maps” and telling it to give my directions home (I’m driving in the wrong direction) then making it small; this is the only way I know to keep the screen on all the time so that I can see my BG (approximately) all the time. I use xDrip+.
It’s hard and, indeed, CA makes it harder as does the UK. We just do it.
When I was teaching communication at the college where I used to work, one of the units dealt with perception. We human beings will react more strongly to and will remember more readily a negative impression before a positive impression. How many times have you read reviews online of a product, and you remember (and perhaps do not purchase) a product because of the two negative reviews you read even though there were many more positive reviews of the same product? The same holds true for this video. “If THIS lady had trouble, then ALL diabetics must be the same way, so they should not drive and should not get insurance,” the uninformed think. We all know better, folks, and I hope that we all are smart enough to know our bodies and our glucose levels before we get behind the wheel.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve not had any problem getting car insurance where I am, but I also make sure that my blood sugar is safe and drive with a corner store supply of juice and fast acting sugar if I need it. I never ever go without my CGM except during the warm up time.
I’m glad he helped her, of course.
I know sometimes things are unpredictable, but she was having a really bad low. A CGM would have alerted her. I hope it’s not that she’s in a situation where she doesn’t have access, but it’s the USA. She very well might be in that situation.
