[Diabetes and road safety]

The purpose of this study is to analyse the driving habits of a group of diabetic individuals, insulin and noninsulin treated, compared with the driving habits of an equivalent group of individuals in good health. Specific attention is given to the evaluation and management of stress related to driving. The analysis relies mainly upon the answers of 307 persons of both sex on a questionnaire regarding their driving habits and concerning twenty more or less risky behaviors. The diabetic subjects were sampled among the patients of an endocrinology clinic, and the pilot group (in good health) was gathered among the patients from the clinic of a general practitioner. The subjects were aged between 25 and 65. All were in possession of a driving licence and had a driving experience of over two years. The results show, on one hand, that the evaluation of stress related to a risky behavior is associated to the taking of risk at the wheel, and on the other hand, that compared with the other subjects in the study the diabetic subjects had a lesser tendency to taking risks in driving. The subjects avoided the behaviors they judged risky. Beside avoiding dangerous road behaviors, the latter brought special attention to food and relaxation needs and they showed a great alertness towards climatic and road conditions. Finally, they are especially careful in preventing and curing hypoglycaemic states.