New guidance on driving with diabetes
GEM Motoring Assist has published new guidelines around driving with diabetes after research revealed eight per cent of adults in England have the condition.
According to Diabetes UK, 3.6 million adults in England have been diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes. A further one million have been undiagnosed.
Meanwhile, a new report produced by the Diabetes Safety Organisation in partnership with the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety (PACTS), Hiding in plain sight – the UK diabetes crisis, revealed that up to six potentially incapacitating severe hypoglycaemia episodes and 40 non-severe hypos occur each month for every 1,000 drivers.
A severe hypo is when blood sugar levels drop so slow that the sufferer needs assistance from someone else to recover.
Cases are rising
GEM’s head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “Diabetes cases are rising and older drivers are at increased risk. However, better awareness, early action and proactive management are key to reducing risk on the roads.
“It’s important to look after yourself, to understand some of the risks posed by diabetes and to know what you should do to minimise those risks. So before embarking on a road journey, particularly a long one, take time to plan the route and build in regular breaks. This can help you assess alertness and sensation in your feet. If you don’t feel well, then avoid driving at all.
“Families can play a key role in supporting older drivers with diabetes. So, by encouraging regular health check-ups and discuss any changes in driving ability, relatives are playing their part in ensuring safe road journeys.”
