Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
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23 Comments
In the past month, have you needed to pull over while driving because of low or high blood glucose levels? Cancel reply
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I don’t drive much anymore, being retired. I only drive to the store and doctors appointments. Sometimes I snack while driving. But I have not had to pull over in many, many years.
If I am low while driving and feel ok (most instances) I will just treat it. If I’m high, I ake a bolus from my phone and with my phone in the CD holder it can recognize my face.
I have not driven since getting diabetes since when I started the diabetes I started epilepsy also.
Only one time.
I didn’t pull over, but I definitely downed a couple of orange sugar pills at the next light!
I don’t have a driver’s licence, so no worries there
I don’t have a car.
My son is the one living with T1D. He is eleven.
No, but I have certainly delayed driving to avoid it when I know a low is coming, that is not uncommon.
I have had to stop. I have glucose tablets in my man-purse (3 tubes) and in each of my 3 vehicles, car, truck, and motorcycle. I am not a fan of pulling over and can take glucose tablets most times without stopping. When riding the MC I ALWAYS STOP.
No, but almost. Thankfully I was right around the corner from my final destination so I could deal with it as soon as I stopped. It was just trending down and I had a couple mins to spare before it required action.
After 2 car accidents due to a rapid drop in blood sugar, I drive as little as possible. I avoid it. I used to be very independent but also refuse to kill myself or others with an excuse of T1D.
I wear DexCom monitoring and Tandem insulin pump. I also carry snacks allowing me to treat impending low.
I check my bg on cgm before starting the car –> always!
If blood sugar is low you do not even start the car!
Technology makes that a simple choice!
Always check my bloodsugar before driving to be safe. Plus, I tend to wait an hour or so after meals before I get in the car to drive. Then, I always carry tabs in an easy to reach location while I am driving. Better safe than sorry.
I always check CGM before driving.
No. I am NOT a driver.
In my power wheelchair ♿
No. I always check my CGM before starting a drive to make sure I am in a safe range to drive safely. If I am low I treat for hypoglycemia and wait until I am trending ^^^^^ and >>>>. Haven’t had to pull over to treat a low for about two years.
Not yet a driver.
About 6 months ago, I did have to pull over after just starting home (less than 10 miles). CGM was screaming I was dropping fast and my husband was on the phone with me thanks to Dexcom Follow. Pulled over, ate (I keep enough carbs for a meal in the car LOL!) and talked to him until the CGM said I was back in range. Soooooooo different than back in the day when we didn’t even have blood glucose meters! 🙂
Love to see the chart/graph on this question. Have never understood the need to pull over (or change any behavior) from high sugar. Lows definitely kill if not addressed, whereas highs take far longer before becoming the equivilent danger.