Driving with diabetes: What is the Portuguese doctors’ and patients’ knowledge?

Abstract

IntroductionIn the last years there was an increasing interest about diabetes and driving. Nowadays there are strict rules for diabetic drivers in most countries. The aim of this study was to assess whether the patients and the doctors were aware of the rules and recommendations in Portugal. MethodsAn anonymous questionnaire was applied to diabetic patients who were drivers attending our center for 8 weeks. A web-based questionnaire was e-mailed to the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Portuguese Society and Diabetes Portuguese Society associates. ResultsNinety-three patients were surveyed. Only 20 patients had discussed this subject with their doctor and 69.9% thought there was not any risk to driving by being a diabetic. Twenty-nine percent never tests blood glucose prior to driving and for the majority it is safe to drive until blood glucose is 60mg/dl. One patient reported a crash due to hypoglycemia. Eighty-eight doctors completed the questionnaire. Fourteen did not associate diabetes with an increased risk of car accidents and 59.1% discuss the driving and diabetes issue with less than 50% of their diabetic patients. Only 54% advise their patients to test blood glycaemia prior to driving and for 46.6% it is safe to drive with blood glucose lower than 90mg/dl. Sixteen did not know recurrent hypoglycemia was a contraindication to driving and eight that impaired awareness of hypoglycemia might also be a contraindication. Discussion/conclusionsThis study shows a lack of patients’ knowledge about safe driving and the rules they must follow. In our opinion, it is fundamental to improve doctor's and patients’ knowledge in this subject.