A recent study reveals that continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) do more than help diabetics manage their blood sugar; they can also improve road safety for those behind the wheel.
The study, published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, shows that individuals with diabetes who use CGMs experience fewer hypoglycemic events while driving, leading to increased confidence and a reduced risk of accidents.
Dr. Hiroshi Arima, senior researcher and professor of endocrinology at Nagoya University in Japan, emphasized the benefits of CGMs, stating, “Continuous glucose monitors with low-glucose alerts can potentially reduce the risk of hypoglycemia for insulin-treated drivers.” He added, “By monitoring glucose levels through CGMs, most hypoglycemic attacks could be avoided even when driving. Such systems are expected to make driving safer for people with diabetes.”
Hypoglycemic incidents while driving are common among individuals with type 1 diabetes. A 2023 study in Diabetes Care found that 72% of people with type 1 diabetes have experienced a low blood sugar episode while driving, and 4% have been involved in accidents due to such incidents.
For the new study, researchers recruited insulin-treated diabetic drivers in Japan who drove at least three times per week. Participants used CGMs with active low-glucose alerts for four weeks, followed by another four weeks without active alerts.
During the active alert period, the frequency of hypoglycemic events while driving dropped to 19%, compared to 33% during the no-alert phase. Additionally, 63% of participants reported increased confidence while driving with the alerts.
“These systems are expected to make driving safer for people with diabetes,” the researchers concluded.
Despite these benefits, the study also highlighted that current glucose monitoring systems are not yet fully optimized for driving. Many participants expressed interest in having alerts integrated with car navigation systems or receiving voice notifications. Researchers suggested that future developments could allow for integration of low-glucose alert functions with vehicle control systems to ensure safer notifications for drivers.
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