Couple of driving questions for uni project..

[bufferz]

I am currently doing my dissertation project for my Engineering degree with the OU. The project im working on is a mobile device for detecting a diabetic driver's BG levels, and if their BG is below a set level, will inform them in some way, to prevent them having a hypo during a journey as due to concentrating on driving they may not notice the hypo beginning. Maybe even prevent the car from starting in the 1st place. Now, practicalities of all this aside, for now, do all T1 diabetics really test every time they get in a car? Also, would you buy such a device, if it meant not having to strip test every time? (As a T2 I have enough of a time trying to keep my BGs low enough to worry about hypos 🙄 )

Thanks in advance for this...

 

[Mark T]

Practicalities... I can think of lots! (I work in automotive electronics).

But, I believe the answer to one of your questions is that any diabetic on a medication that may cause hypos is expected to test before driving as defined by the DVLA. How many actually test before driving, well...

 

[Vicsetter]

I think you need to do a bit more basic research. The requirement to test and the possibility of hypos is basically down to : are you on insulin (read the DVLA requirements for driving for diabetics). So T2s have to test as well.

No not all diabetics that should test do test.

The market is for a continuous Blood Glucose meter not restricted to driving. I can't see that anything that would work for driving (without test strips) would not be useful for all.

If it had bluetooth built in then it should be easy to pair it to a cars electronics and also to a phone giving the possibility of phoning for assistance in case of severe hypo ( I'm assuming the fact that the phone's motion sensors/microphone could detect imobility).

 

[AlisonF]

You'd need a very high level of accuracy for this to be trusted as a valid pre-driving result. I use a continuous glucose monitor now, but often double check the result with a BG test before driving, because the value of it is in showing trends, not giving a one off accurate reading that decisions can be based on. So to replace the relatively cheap and easy BG test, I think you'd need something pretty accurate.

 

[cherrypie]

Haven't see an update but Ford was trying something similar in 2011.
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/425762/car-warns-when-your-blood-sugar-is-low/

 

[trophywench]

Well speaking for myself, yes I flipping do !

I've had two accidents in the past because of being hypo and that's probably why I'm so paranoid now.

It's no bad thing IMHO.

However there isn't an accurate SMBG measurement system on the market at all so where would you get this device - glucometers are allowed to be 20% out either way although many of em are better than that - but you can't guarantee it.

 

[novorapidboi26]

I am quite bad in this respect and don't test all the time.......

Usually its near or close to a meal anyway but I still should try more......

My hypo awareness is good also, which helps......🙂

 

[Mark T]

I suspect that they are talking about this technology: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-15589264

There was talk a couple of years back of adding a tube you had to breath through to detect alcohol levels and if they were too high it would stop the car from starting. I think one of the Nordic countries was thinking of adding it as a mandatory requirement for all cars sold. This would just be an extension on that.

However, you are hardly going to breath into a little tube whilst you are driving and you can't really automatically enforce someone to pull over to test whilst they are driving (lawsuits!). Besides how would the car know that it wasn't the passenger?

From an engineering standpoint, I'd love to pick this one to pieces 🙄 But I'm going to try restrain myself! 😛

 

[Lizzzie]

If you can really check your blood sugar without 'doing a test' while driving for the affordable amount of money that would be hundreds of times less than a CGM that'd be amazing and I'm sure many diabetics would buy one.

I don't believe it's practically possible...... Will check the tube breathing thing out but that's a bit in your face!

 

[Lauras87]

I always test before I get in the car, if I'm under 5 I will eat to prevent a hypo.
If its a long drive, I try to stop half way to check I'm ok

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Maybe even prevent the car from starting in the 1st place. Now, practicalities of all this aside, for now, do all T1 diabetics really test every time they get in a car? Also, would you buy such a device, if it meant not having to strip test every time? (As a T2 I have enough of a time trying to keep my BGs low enough to worry about hypos 🙄 )

Thanks in advance for this...

No I would not buy such a device 🙂
The law states you must test before you get into your car. So pointless not letting the car start. 🙂

 

[FergusC]

Given that a non diabetic will run BGs lower than we,as diabetics are allowed, how would we stop the machine from triggering when a non D tries to drive and operate when a D tries to drive when hypo. I cannot see how a workable system can be made. It would only be workable as an advisor and would probably end up being unworkably expensive!