Beep, Beep, Beep! There you are minding your own business and living your life, and a low blood sugar decides to join the party. Whether you’re hopping onto a connecting flight, walking to class, or strolling through the farmer’s market, navigating hypos in the wild is all about being prepared!
It’s always a good idea to know your glucose level before getting behind the wheel.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to know the laws in your state around diabetes and driving. Protect your license, yourself, and other drivers by knowing how to navigate lows safely while driving!
When you’re away from home and having a low, it can be hard to navigate. If I’m feeling like my brain can’t keep up and I need a minute, I’ll say something along the lines of “hey, I’m low can I have a few minutes? I want to make sure I’m able to give this my full attention” or “My blood sugar is low and I’m not feeling super great, I’ll be able to make a decision on that in a few minutes.” Letting the other person know that you just need a few minutes to re-engage can be super helpful.
While we don’t often think about it this way, diabetes is legally considered a disability according to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). This means that your school and/or workplace needs to offer you reasonable accommodations for your diabetes. Check out the Resource Hub for more information on accommodations at work and school!
Wearing a medical ID is a great way to stay safe in case of emergency. There are so many options for ways to wear ID. From bracelets to necklaces, watch bands and tattoos, styling is up to you. Your medical ID doesn’t have to feel like a flashing advertisement that you have diabetes. It’s there to alert medical personnel that you have diabetes in case of an emergency. If they know you have diabetes because of your medical ID, they’ll prioritize checking your blood glucose instead of running other tests first.
Both Apple and Android phones have the option to add emergency info and/or a medical ID on your phone, without requiring your phone to be unlocked to access.
This is a great place to say that you have diabetes, but also to have more information about your diabetes: what insulin(s) you’re using, what devices are on your body, your emergency contacts etc.
Glucagon, preferably ready-to-use glucagon, should be at your “home base” meaning where you spend most of your time. But it’s also important to have it accessible. While the hope is that you never have to use it, ready-to-use glucagon should travel with you. Keep in mind, it doesn’t like to get too hot or too cold, so don’t leave it in the car. A backpack or purse that you always have with you is a good place to keep your traveling ready-to-use glucagon. And make sure that it’s not expired!
This resource is supported by Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Dexcom. The Diabetes Link maintains editorial control over content.