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This used to be a very important rule when I started driving. Unfortunately, now insurance is trying hard to limit type 1 diabetics to testing just 3 times a day, and Type 2's to once a day.
Insurance companies don't care about public safety, only profit. (End of mini-rant). I think this is a good point to bring up in the fight to be treated fairly by the insurance companies.
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Thank you for the great blog. When I am low I can't be in discussions with people or answer questions about how I am or anything else, even well-intended questions. I find myself saying "I can't talk to you right now, my blood sugar is low" and hurrying off so I can get away from them. When I am really low, I often need to lie down on some grass outside and be AWAY from people. But when I am really really low, frankly, I need to have someone sit with me for about 15 minutes to make sure that I snap out of it. It can be a little embarassing because I can be quite snappy or loopy, usually when I am diving down before I realize that a low is about to hit. Yes, and I also hate the "Are you ok?" questions. Because, no, I am not ok, and people who don't know the situation well are likely to panic if I tell them that. I have trained people close to me to ask me, "Do you need anything?" To that I say "No" if I don't need anything, but if I do, I will tell them what I need, like a coke, or my other bottle of glucose tabs from the car. Lately I am in professional situations where I am in all day meetings and classes and group hikes with people who don't know about my diabetes. With my son I have a little code system. I'll rate the reaction. I'll tell him its just a little one, its a big one, or, once in a while I just say, "This is an emergency." He knows at those times to stay close, ask what I need, bring what I need, and just watch until I am ok again. I think that I am going to have to educate more people around me to use the same rating system. They will be more comfortable if they know what to do, and I will be more comfortable if they don't ask tons of questions when I am low. Thanks again for a great blog.
I leave a stash of quick acting snacks everywhere just in case. Smarties candy is one of my favorites because it has a good shelf life in hot temps (like my car). I'm a computer contractor and cannot afford to mention my condition on the job (contract abruptly ends if I do) so I've learned to not rely on others.