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Driving and lower blood sugar levels

Lobsang Tsultim

Lobsang Tsultim

Well-Known Member
Messages
526
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
New territory for me as a type 2: I checked my blood sugar level 2 hours after lunch, and it's dropped to 4.7 I was about to take a short trip to check on some things but thought, "Aren't we meant to avoid driving if our BS are below 5?" What do people think - I'm not on insulin or other glucose lower medication. Should I drive and chalk it up to the 15% error margin since, as a type 2 not on medication, hypoglycemia is very unlikely? Or should I be cautious and avoid it?
 
Lobsang Tsultim said:
New territory for me as a type 2: I checked my blood sugar level 2 hours after lunch, and it's dropped to 4.7 I was about to take a short trip to check on some things but thought, "Aren't we meant to avoid driving if our BS are below 5?" What do people think - I'm not on insulin or other glucose lower medication. Should I drive and chalk it up to the 15% error margin since, as a type 2 not on medication, hypoglycemia is very unlikely? Or should I be cautious and avoid it?
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This rule is for people on glucose lowering medication only (and they can still legally drive when between 4 and 5, provided that they eat something).
Non diabetics can drop into the 3s regularly and never test, driving is perfectly fine unless you don't feel well. :)
 
The advice for driving is aimed at people on insulin and hypoglycaemic drugs. If thats not you then you have no more chance than anyone else in the population of dropping low. Your liver should dump glucose before it becomes hazardous without those meds. Millions of healthy non diabetics probably drive in the 4’s every single day. 4.7 is a perfect reading. Obviously if you feel unwell don’t drive, and that’s more likely if you are accustomed to much higher levels and need to reacclimate to better normal levels.

The law is actually below 4 IF you are on those medications but the 5 is oft quoted advice to give some leeway and to advise you to have a snack to avoid it actually dropping below 4 the exception is if you’ve actually had a hypo below 4 you need to raise it back above 5 before for 45 mins resuming driving.
 
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