Verified answer

This one is complicated.

I have known and do know several diabetics with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes ( the more common one ) and with different severities of it.

"Diabetics" encompass a range of individuals all over the place with regard how well their illness can be controlled. And within that range is also a sizable group of diabetics who don't even know that they have it.

If this man wilfully continued to drive knowing that his blood sugar was dropping then he should be held to some degree of responsibility and be charged with either involuntary manslaughter or some degree of vehicular homicide.

But what if he DIDN'T know his blood sugar was too low and his impaired judgement due to his hypoglycemia let him continue to drive, his blood sugar continue to fall until his judgement was completely impaired before he went into the coma?

I know a Type 1 diabetic who has to monitor his blood sugar numerous times a day. What is weird ( to me ) is that he has been noticing how he feels for so long, he can predict what it is.

This same person scares the hell out of me though because he can continue to function with a blood sugar reading under 40 mg/dL. I wonder how close that is to a line in the sand where he would be completely impaired and unable to take measures to bring it back up. And go into a coma.

He drives. A lot.

I know another with Type 2 diabetes, poorly controlled - a "brittle" diabetic. He does everything he can to manage it as well as it can be managed. Even still, there can be problems.

He started getting sick and clammy on our way back from Maine ( from Massachusetts ). Both of us had to get back, especially me, who he'd sort of Shanghaied in the first place ( I had no idea I'd end up at the Canadian border) plus a storm was coming. He was sweating and losing it. This came on VERY quickly. Fine, then a few minutes later, severely hypoglycemic.

I had to drive ( no license ) for about 80 miles so we wouldn't get stuck in a danged snow storm, and get both of us killed, before he was okay again.

Should either of these people be allowed to drive? Who decides? And how?

What about diabetics who haven't ever had a close call at all. Their diabetes is managed just fine and all is hunky dory. The bingo, one day something goes wrong, something changes. They miss or ignore the signs ( because they aren't familiar with them ) and they end up in a coma - while at the wheel.

I think it comes down to how familiar he was with the signs of impending loss of consciousness and upon what window of time he had to work with.

If he knew what was happening yet continued to drive then he is guilty. Of involuntary manslaughter or some degree of homicide.

If he had no idea what was happening or did but had no time to act before he was too impaired to do so then I'd say that he is innocent.

I am sorry about the man who was killed and for his friends and family.

But whether the diabetic driver is guilty or not - insufficient information.

1

Like everyone else who's posted, not gonna touch with a ten foot pole how to put yourself into a diabetic coma. However, obviously we ARE willing to give you attention. Why not post some more or email us as Mr. Peachy suggested? You can see for sure, you're not alone. I've had Type II for over 16 years, and I can tell you I feel a lot differently now than I did when I was diagnosed, and even at times in the middle. Getting diagnosed sucked and felt like the end of the world. It wasn't. The last sixteen years haven't even been close to miserable, darn it. And while I felt like giving up AGAIN while pregnant (insulin shots 3-5 times daily the entire pregnancy and blood sugars from 43-243 despite my best efforts), I didn't. Really, I just wanted to whine about how much insulin shots sucked (they are a pretty small inconvenience, all things considered) and how petrified I was my baby wouldn't be okay. My baby's happy and healthy, I'm pretty happy and healthy (and back on the diet/exercise), and gosh darn it, my family's happy too. Not at all what I would've expected. So enough about me. You gonna post another, email us, or what??

I am writing to tell you what an incredible impact these methods had on my life! I have had type 2 diabetes for 27 years. For me, the worst part of this horrible disease is the severe pain I constantly get in my feet. The pain is so bad that I avoid standing and walking as much as possible. I've got to tell you that within the first month, my feet stopped hurting altogether and I can now walk totally pain free.

Believe it or not, I even danced at my niece's wedding last month, something I have not done in a many years. I've been following the book for six months now and my blood sugar is well within normal range. I feel great!

I recommend you use the Type 2 Diabetes Destroyer to naturally reverse your diabetes.

First let me say that I am deeply grieved and I am sorry for your loss. I might suggest that as a Christian however that you err on the side of not rushing to judgment. Diabetics may legally drive even if they are on insulin. All diabetics may have an episode of hypoglycemia - which is more likely in this case than hyperglycemia - no matter how proper their diet and no matter how well their diabetes is controlled. Thus it may truly have been an accident. If this individual was clearly non-compliant with his medical regimen then you may have a valid point but it does not sound as if you have enough information to reach a conclusion. I hope that your church family will remain strong through this ordeal. I wish you the very best of health and may God bless.

I don't know the particulars of the case, so I can't comment with any real certainty, but:

Diabetes is a very controllable disease, yes. And we diabetics have a responsibility to test our blood sugar regularly and consult our physicians often for adjustments and changes to our medication, insulin, diet, and exercise regimen. That being said, lows can occur even after you eat. (Sometimes eating can spark a low - surprising, huh?) Lows can occur without you even realizing it. Lows can also occur very quickly. Your blood sugar can drop to dangerous levels in under half an hour.

We just don't know what happened, unfortunately. There's no telling if this was an emergency situation out of the diabetic's control or if the diabetic was being irresponsible by not testing, not eating or what.

I feel that the man should be charged. If he went in a coma, it's propably because he was not taking care of his condition properly and was endangering his life and the lives of others.

There are too many cases of people with medical conditions who drive and end up killing others. Just like elderly people. Some do not see well and yet still have their licences. A lot of accidents are caused by the elderly.

Example:I used to drive. I have post traumatic stress disorder and severe panic attacks. Results:I take anxiety pills and strong painkillers for something other. I do not feel it is safe for me to drive anymore so I stopped completely. I will not be putting others or myself in a dangerous situation. I hate not driving but I feel that is best to do....

My deepest sympathies for your friend..

i think both ways some people with type 1 diabetes have big problems with it because it involves putting in carbs and if the man didn't put in the right amount of carbs like if he put to many units of insulin he would go into diabetic shock not coma.

But if it was type 2 in the case of older people and teens that LOVE food i would would think he should in fact charge him for involuntary manslaughter.

And i think he is fine unless he is incredibly hurt from the crash people that are in comas and crash or are past out from drinking don't ge hurt in car crashes because they are limp and role around like a rag doll

hope this helps

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