Driving

Road Trip.

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When I go travelling (and that’s a very loose term, given I have never ventured beyond Australia), I spend a lot of time thinking about whether I have packed enough supplies to last me the distance. I give a lot of thought to how I will manage if I get stranded, lost, delayed or even robbed. I pack for the trip through airport security and the plane, in an attempt to make my load as light and convenient as possible.

What I don’t really give a lot of thought to, however, is how I will manage my diabetes on the trip. Travel tends to be a break from the daily grind, and diabetes management unintentionally tends to go onto the backburner. It’s also full of spontaneity which, for me, includes a lot of unplanned carbs (read: Cannoli) and physical activity.

This weekend, my travel plans were a little different to what I was used to. I wouldn’t be travelling by air, with the luxury of being able to sleep, write or watch Netflix from the comfort of my seat. I wouldn’t be sightseeing or walking a lot, either. I would be seated behind the wheel of my car, making a road trip three hours south of Perth to spend some time with family.

This time around, I was increasingly conscious of looking after my blood sugars while I was making my way through country roads at 110 kilometres per hour. I didn’t particularly want to be sharing screen time with my insulin pump, pricking my fingers or thinking all that much about blood sugars.

Even though I would inevitably be eating out, I was increasingly conscious of ordering something that would be simple to carb count. I chose bacon and eggs at a local Dome along the way, with an iced latte. I gave a small bolus for the coffee and half slice of toast that I ate, and ran an extended bolus to cover the protein over two and a half hours.

I might have pulled my Libre reader out three or four times during the drive home, which came back with a number that remained fairly steady the entire time. The most eventful moment was me needing to pull over to take off my jacket as the overcast south western skies transitioned into warm Perth sunshine.

I didn’t spend too much time thinking about my diabetes during the road trip, and the spectacular drive was a surprisingly nice mental break.

During a conversation over the weekend, one of my family members suggested that I must know my body really well, and how it reacts to all of the variables that affect blood sugars. It couldn’t be more spot on.

I have so much accumulated knowledge when it comes to managing my diabetes, and I definitely need to channel some of that into a better game plan next time I hit the road (which is more likely to be a plane).

Red Light.

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I glance at the watch on my wrist. I know that it will only take me a minute, but it’s 4 o’clock and I really want to get out of here already.

I make the trek outside, where my car is conveniently parked in its usual spot at the end closest to the centre door. It’s a longer walk in the morning, when I have to come in through the back entrance, but completely worth it at the end of the day.

I hop inside my car, and place my belongings on the vacant seat beside me. I know that it will only take me a minute, but I really just want to start making my way home where afternoon coffee is calling my name.

I place my keys in the ignition, lock my doors and wind down my windows. I reverse out of my spot and make my way out of the carpark, cutting through some of the quieter residential areas in order to avoid the pile up of traffic on my way out of the centre. I make one final right, which takes me back out onto the main road and in a far better position traffic wise.

Finally, I have what I’ve been waiting for as I begin to apply my brakes, slide my gears back into neutral and cars begin to bank up in front of me. A red light.

I only have a minute, but I know I can do it.

I dive into my bag, pull out my travel case and grab my meter, strips and lancing device. I quickly pop open the cap on my test strip vial and slide out a fresh strip, sticking it into my blood glucose meter. I prick my finger with the lancing device, and squeeze my fingertip. A little drop of blood appears on my fingertip, but I know its not enough. I squeeze again, harder, like I’m holding on tightly for dear life.

Part of me knows I don’t have enough blood, but the other hasty part of my brain watching the traffic light tells me I can do this. I bring the meter closer to my fingertip, and let the blood slide onto the end of the test strip.

A shrill BEEEEEEP! Sounds from my meter as a strip fill error appears on the screen. My absolute pet hate when it comes to living with diabetes.

I furiously rip out the useless test strip, pop open the cap on my vial of strips and slide out a new one. I stick it onto the end of my meter, shove my lancing device right up against the tip of my finger and prick again. This time, blood flows more freely. Satisfied, the test strip laps it up and decides to give me a blood glucose reading.

I quickly wipe the excess blood on my fingertip against the side of the test strip as the light changes to green and traffic begins to move. I fling everything on the passenger seat beside me, which I’ll clean up during the next red light.

Glucose Testing Behind The Wheel

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One of the topics that really spoke to me while completing the yourSAY survey was the issue of glucose monitoring before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

To be honest, having to go to a doctor every two years to have my “assessment to drive” completed is a bit demoralising. I don’t like having my “medical condition” branded on my drivers license. I don’t often ask for special considerations because of my diabetes, and I hate that I have to ask my doctor for it every two years in order to operate a vehicle.

I get that operating a vehicle, or machinery is a pretty serious responsibility. For anybody. With or without diabetes. I get that I have a condition that could potentially put others at risk on the road if not managed properly. But I also know that I am a responsible driver. A responsible driver of my own vehicle, and of my own diabetes management. Both of which I take very seriously.

I do not test every time that I am about to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Not because it’s inconvenient, not because I don’t like to and not because I don’t carry my testing supplies on hand. I don’t test every time that I get behind the wheel simply because I don’t feel that it is necessary to do so.

I am the designated driver in the vehicle of my diabetes management. And it’s my right to make that decision of whether or not it will be necessary for me to test before getting behind the wheel today. It’s my ability to judge a hypo, or hyper coming on. They’re my blood sugar levels that I place the confidence in to remain stable while on the road. Not yours. Not the government’s. Not my doctor’s. And not anybody else’s.

Every day in the news we hear of drunk drivers, traffic offenders and criminals endangering our roads, and the individuals on them. I am not suggesting it is, but I would hate to think that mandatory glucose testing in a vehicle would somehow be legally enforced here in Australia ahead of these other more serious issues.

I realise that this is probably easier for me to say compared to someone who is not as confident with their diabetes management. But at the end of the day we must empower, and give this responsibility to the individual.

I will be guest moderating tonight’s Oz Diabetes Online Community chat. Join me by following the #OzDOC hashtag on Twitter from 8.30pm AEDT/5.30pm AWST.