New campaign warns about hypos while driving

Thu, 24 Nov 2011
A new campaign has been launched to raise awareness and provide information about the dangers of low type 2 diabetes.

The campaign, organised by an alliance of the Automobile Association, MSD Diabetes, Diabetes Nursing Group and TREND, aims to help diabetics identify the symptoms of hypoglycaemia, manage their blood sugar levels and avoid a hypoglycaemic event while driving.

Called "Are You Running On Empty?", the campaign educates on how to lower the risk of a hypo when at the wheel, and to visit the doctor whenever necessary. It is thought that about 5,000 people in the UK undergo severe hypoglycaemia and need to be admitted to hospital each year.

The launch follows a rule change in 2011 which forces diabetics who are treating their condition with insulin or an oral diabetic agent to ensure they restrict the number of hypos requiring assistance from someone they have in a year to less than two or face losing their licence.

There is also new legislation that came into force in mid November concerning people with either type 1 or 2 diabetes and who take insulin that allows them to apply for a HGV or passenger service vehicles licence, as long as they properly control and monitor their blood sugar levels.

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