Testing before driving

G'day everyone,

Quick question, do you all test beofre driving?

Austen

Yes, definitely.  Especially since it's kind of a new skill for me :P

Yes, especially if I'm stressed or busy because I'll sometimes miss the symptoms of a low.

Almost never. I don't have a lot of lows and because I'm usually on the higher side I always feel them, so they aren't really a concern for me. If I had one recently though, I will test to make sure my level is above my "low" bg number.

I only really have problems on long trips where I'm driving. If I'm on the highway for over 30minutes, I tend to start dropping. I usually stop quite a bit for breaks anyways for other reasons, so when I do I'll test and regardless usually have a few bites of something. I always have a quick fix in the car so if I start to feel weird, I can pull over anywhere and treat. It's not fun, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

If you're prone to lows or have trouble feeling them, I would recommend testing before you drive. Or if you're just starting to learn how to drive.

As a teenager, I didn't and WISH I had. I mean, it's 5 seconds of your life, right? As an adult, I always did until I got my CGM. Now, I always check the CGM when I get into the car and test with my meter if the sensor seems off.

I think becoming a Mom is what made me really religious about it, but really, I should have been just as concerned before.... I think it was the typical young person's thinking of nothing bad will ever happen to ME, lol.

I don't always check right before driving, but I usually check enough normally that I do anyways without realizing it.  I check about 15 times/day.  

Hayley

I should also say that I personally feel that it is really important to always have juice boxes or snacks in your car, because once I went low (I was 50) and didn't have anything and had been driving around for about 15 minutes in a neighborhood I wasn't very familiar with and it took me another 5 minutes before I found a Mcdonalds and could get an OJ.  :/  Driving when you're low is terrifying--I was so scared I was going to pass out or go into another lane or something.

Hayley

I can usually feel my lows in the 70s, but occasionally I drop slowly and a low can sneak up on me and I don't feel it until I am in the low 60s, or even less. Therefore, i test every time before driving, and when I am out and about and get back in the car, I test again. Walking a lot while shopping, etc makes me drop, so testing is very important every time I get into my car.

I once took my 10 year old son to the grocery store to pick up a few things. He said, Mom you're acting weird! I remember writing a check and starting the truck and then I woke up in an ambulance. My son turned off the ignition, took the keys and went back into the store and had the manager call for an ambulance. While I was very grateful and proud of my son, it's way too much responsibility for a 10 year old. I thank GOD I didn't harm him or anyone else.  YES, I TEST EVERY TIME BEFORE I INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION.

I never test before I drive. I know I should, but if I'm low I don't have the time to eat something and WAIT for it to come back up... I guess I just try to ignore it until I get where I'm going...?

"I never test before I drive. I know I should, but if I'm low I don't have the time to eat something and WAIT for it to come back up... I guess I just try to ignore it until I get where I'm going...?"

yikes... now that's bad news, shauna. if you're low (ESPECIALLY) if you know it, you need to wait. it's so unbelievably dangerous to drive while low. and, as we all know, ignoring a low BG doesn't make it go away. if you are low, test then eat. if you're running late somewhere, give them a call and explain. if they don't understand, they will at least be happy you make it there alive. if you're chronically late to places, try using an alarm clock, leaving 10 minutes earlier, building other reminders into your schedule, or tell yourself your 10:30am appointment is at 10:00am (then if you're "late" you're still actually early or on time).

it's better to treat the low, be late somewhere, and live than it is to ignore the low, get in an accident, and harm others or yourself.

I don't typically test before I drive but do keep glucose tablets in my car just in case.

Oh dear, for those of you who don't test before you drive, I pray that all your time behind the wheel is safe for you and those on the road...

I don't always RIGHT before, but I check frequently enough that I rarely get in the car without having a general idea of what my bs is.  Having my cgm is really nice for that since I'm usually always running late:) haha.  I ALWAYS have my checker with me, and almost always juice or soda and money in case I need to get something if I'm low.  

Hayley

Yes.  It's worth taking a few seconds of my time to ensure I don't kill myself or an innocent person on the road because I'm low.