Many Diabetic Patients With Recurrent Severe Hypoglycemias Hold a Valid Driving License. A Community-Based Study in Insulin-Treated Patients With Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: We studied retrospectively the current driving license status in insulin-treated diabetic patients, who had severe hypoglycemia (SH) within an observation period of one year and who lived in two Finnish communities. Methods: The episodes of SH were identified from local ambulance registers, the databases of local health care units and from patient questionnaires in 680 insulin-treated diabetic patients. The data on current driving licenses were obtained from local police authorities. Results: Of type 1 and type 2 insulin-treated diabetic patients 31.0 and 12.3 percent, respectively, had at least one self-reported SH, whereas 53 (7.8%) of them reported even three or more episodes of SH. Of insulin-treated patients with clustering of SH 68 percent still held a driving license, and 21percent of them held even a license for commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tons. Conclusions: Recurrent episodes of SH occur in a minority of insulin-treated diabetic patients. However, two thirds of them still held a valid driving license even for commercial vehicles, which violates the medical standards for diabetes and driving.