i agree with DNH. we don't know all the facts about this guy and what all exactly happened. i do believe, however that he should be charged with something because he had the chance to pull over and check his bs but because he didn't, it cost someone their life.
I agree with you Taylor. I test every time before driving. If I am on a trip I test every hour. I like to have my BG above 90 before driving and above 100 if driving for 30 minute or more.
I am freaked out all the time that something like that is going to happen to me. I've had times where my meter said I was like 190 but then it said I was 130 a minute later and that could happen a lot lower. And the other day I got so low I almost passed out but the only reason I even thought I was getting low was because I happened to stand up and feel really dizzy. If I was sitting I know I wouldn't have felt anything. I also think that when you are that low you wouldn't necessarily be able to think enough to listen to someone and make decisions like that. Maybe he could have been having some sort of seizure? I used to know someone who had the kind of seizure where you just stare into space. I dunno. It just seems like there's a lot of factors to consider. I also hate that it's treated so much like drunk driving. I know a lot of drunk drivers, cause everyone in wisconsin drives drunk, and I think that it is so selfish, and it's deliberate. And I've known drunk drivers who keep doing it over and over and never have consequences. I still see the same drunk driver that got into an accident with my friend's brother driving around like nothing happened, probably still drunk. But driving low tends to be more of an accident, even if you're careful and you test before you drive. And I knew of someone who pulled over to check her blood sugar and she got in trouble because "she's supposed to do it before she drives." But shouldn't you check it every once in awhile when you're driving since it can sometimes change rapidly? So then if you can get in trouble for checking it in your car on the side of the road, why would you anyway?
Even without all the facts its seems rational to think he didnt bother to check before he drove. If he had and was normal and just happened to drop low suddenly I wouldnt think they would press charges against him. It does seem he was being reckless and not checking before he left and yes while low he might argue and not pull over because of how he reacts to lows which would be excusable IF he checked himself before he left his home. I just dont see charges being pressed against a responsible diabetic but a irresponsible one who didnt bother heck yes its the same as drunk driving.
Chelsea those kinds of seizures are called Absence seizures or petite mal seizures. My boys have them on top of one having grand mals. (oh and this is bold cause I went to copy and paste something and for some reason it made my text bold and wont undo it lol)
Hi everyone, we ran an update to the story from last week. If you are interested, you can check it out here: Man Pleads Not Guilty in Diabetes Car Crash Death
Unless I'm going to be driving for an hour or more on the highway(that's when I usually end up going low while driving and have to pull over) I don't test before getting into the car. If I was low before hand, I've usually tested a bunch and obviously wouldn't drive if my BG hadn't at least hit my target level. I've only ever gone low once while driving around town & had to pull over though though, but the few times I've felt myself start to drop other than that, I've been a minute or two from my destination anyways(usually I end up being 4.5 which I can still function at pretty well) so I am just more careful. I've never been in an accident that was the result of starting to drop, or had my blood sugar be questioned when an accident has happened.
Hey everyone,
I spoke with the DA on this case and asked him a bunch of questions we talked about here. Check out the full Q&A I posted on Diabetes News Hound by checking out the following link: DA in Car Crash Death: Diabetes Not on Trial
--Chris
I'm not so sure that the man in his office who has T1 and who had such HIGH blood sugars that he went blind is exactly the best source of information about low blood sugar and insensitivity to lows.
[quote user="DiabetesNewsHound"] This could set a dangerous precedent - its a slippery slope
[/quote]
Seems to me it could set a dangerous precedent either way. If you declare him not guilty, saying there is no way he could have prevented this from happening, you're saying there is no way to prevent this from happening again - that people with diabetes are inherently more dangerous behind the wheel. If they are, then they should not be allowed to get licenses.
I know that A) you can test til the cows come home and still end up with the occasional unexplainable low. and B) you can, 99% of the time, avoid lows in the short term by testing before driving and treating. and C) everyone's diabetes is different, so for me testing every fifteen minutes might be necessary, but for someone else, testing every hour might be enough.
It just seems like either we have to say "yes, i could have kept this from happening." and take the fall when it does happen, or we have to say "i can't prevent lows behind the wheel." and not get driver's licenses. Sticky situation. And very sad for everyone involved.
Thanks for the Q&A everything I was thinking was correct then and I still go with my original thoughts that yes he should be charged and in jail.