Alcohol, Driving, Illegal Drugs

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Alcohol

You and your teen already know about the dangers of drinking too much and of drinking and driving. For people with diabetes, though, even a little alcohol can be dangerous. Alcohol on its own lowers blood glucose levels. The sugary mixers in some drinks can raise blood glucose. And drinking makes it difficult to recognize the signs of hypoglycemia. Your teen may think that she’s feeling the effects of alcohol, when in fact her blood glucose is taking a nose-dive. Others may attribute any strange behavior to being drunk -- even if they know your teen has diabetes.

Encourage your teen to abstain from alcohol. Talk about ways to say “no” if she is pressured to drink. (One easy way may be for her to serve as the designated driver.)  In case she does decide to drink, talk about ways to do it more safely. People with diabetes should limit themselves to one or two drinks only, and avoid drinks with sugary mixers. They should never drink on an empty stomach -- the danger of hypoglycemia is too high  On the other hand, caution your teen to try to avoid over-eating while drinking. Anyone with diabetes who drinks needs to have a good idea of the alcohol and sugar content of various drinks and choose the ones with lower alcohol and sugar. And people with diabetes should always wear their medical ID when they drink -- just in case.

Driving

Teens with diabetes should have no problem getting their driving license in most states. But because of the risks of driving with hypoglycemia your teen may be required to submit a written report from her doctor confirming that her diabetes is relatively well managed. 

It’s a good idea for you and your teen to have an agreement about what she should do to avoid hypoglycemia while driving. She should always check her blood glucose before getting in the car (especially if it’s a long trip). If it’s low, she should treat the hypoglycemia and wait until she’s at a safer level before driving. Keep the glove compartment stocked at all times with glucose tablets and snacks.

Tell your teen to pull over immediately and check her glucose if she feels low while driving. She should treat the hypoglycemia and remain parked until her glucose rises again. You may want to provide your teen with a cellular or car phone so she can call for help if she has an emergency while driving alone.

You, your teen, and the doctor may want set guidelines on what bg levels are safe for driving, as well as if and how often she should pull over and check during longer car trips.

Illegal Drugs

The dangers of illegal drugs are similar to those of alcohol. Some drugs lower blood glucose, and others raise it. The symptoms of hypoglycemia can be masked by the effect of the drug. And, of course, illegal drugs are highly addictive and bad for the health in other ways. Not to mention the fact that they’re illegal. Talk to your teen about the dangers of drugs, and take a stand against their use