1. Hypoglycemia While Driving in Insulin-Treated Patients: Incidence and Risk Factors.
- Author
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Lohan L, Clément F, Duflos C, Villiet M, Castet-Nicolas A, Boegner C, Avignon A, Sultan A, and Breuker C
- Subjects
- Blood Glucose, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents adverse effects, Incidence, Insulin adverse effects, Risk Factors, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Hypoglycemia chemically induced, Hypoglycemia epidemiology
- Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate a potential daily-life concern for patients with diabetes hypoglycemia while driving by (1) estimating their incidence in insulin-treated drivers, (2) determining factors associated with their occurrence, and (3) analyzing patients' behavior regarding prevention of hypoglycemia., Methods: We conducted an observational study from November 2013 to May 2018 in the endocrinology-diabetology-nutrition department of our university hospital. All patients treated for diabetes older than 18 years admitted in the department were eligible. A specific questionnaire assessing attitudes, knowledge, and consequences of hypoglycemia was provided. In this study, only insulin-treated patients who regularly drive were analyzed., Results: On the 233 insulin-treated drivers included, 45 (19%) self-reported at least 1 hypoglycemia while driving in the preceding year. Two factors were significantly associated with their occurrence: type 1 diabetes (odds ratio [OR] = 3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.55-6.57) and experiences of asymptomatic hypoglycemia (OR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.05-4.63). Awareness of the treatment hypoglycemia risk because of information provided by a medical specialist was also but nonsignificantly associated with hypoglycemia while driving (OR = 2.61; 95% CI = 0.86-7.92). Forty-one patients (18%) combined those 3 variables, 20 (49%) of them self-reported hypoglycemia while driving. Thirty-four percent of the patients never carried carbohydrates for hypoglycemia correction. Seventy-six percent do not monitor blood glucose level before driving., Conclusions: Our questionnaire allowed us to highlight that 19% our cohort of insulin-treated drivers declared experiencing hypoglycemia while driving. Risk factors identified and prevention data collected should help us better target patient education., Competing Interests: The authors disclose no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
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