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February 22, 2010 Hello Sisters! First, I must provide everyone with the latest update on the Weekend for Women Conference! I am excited to announce that the registration is almost FULL! We have women coming in to the Conference from ALL over the country. In fact, women from 20 different states will descend upon Raleigh, North Carolina on the weekend of Mary 22-23, 2010 for a heart-warming, life-changing, educational, good time! To provide a little info about the diversity and the truly amazing women who you will be able to mingle with at the Conference: We have a group of 30-somethings who have Type 1 diabetes from around the country who are meeting up at the Conference. We also have a group of 10 women with Type 2 diabetes from Brooklyn, NY who are driving down to NC together! Aside from these women, we have numerous pairs of women who are meeting up at the Conference and far more women who are attending as individuals with hopes of meeting their “lifelong” diabetes buddy. If you have not registered yet, THERE ARE ONLY 10 SPOTS LEFT! So, registration will likely be filled by March 1st! If you want to look at the Agenda or read the Speaker Bios, click here: http://www.diabetessisters.org/weekend-for-women-conference. But, do so quickly! J This past month, I have had to give some thought to diabetes in relation to my driving privileges. Why? You ask. Well, since the age of 16, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has required me to get a physician/diabetes specialist to complete medical paperwork every two years (like clockwork!) on my ability to drive a car. Every time I see the forms come in the mail, I feel a certain amount of stress. Stress because the letter always says something to the effect of, “If this paperwork is not completed and received in our office within 30 days from the date this letter was written, driving privileges will be suspended. “ Talk about scaring the life out of me! I honestly don’t know how I would live without the ability to jump in my car and go somewhere when I need to go. I don’t know if anyone else has to do this (or something similar) in order to maintain their driver’s license. In fact, I’ve never talked to anyone who has had to get these forms completed! L It all started when I went to get my driver’s license at the age of 16. I was so excited! Unfortunately, they went through a list of questions when getting me registered, one of which included, “Do you have diabetes?” I answered yes, unaware that it would result in a barrage of paperwork from the DMV every two years. I was also EXTREMELY disappointed to leave from the DMV that day without a driver’s license. You see, I couldn’t get my license until a physician gave me “the ok” with completed paperwork. Thus started my 20 year adventure with diabetes and driving.I have only had one BAD experience with diabetes while driving. It was when I was in college. I drove to Raleigh (30 minute drive) for a fasting blood test and on the way back to my dorm, my blood sugar dropped (while driving). I suddenly found it difficult to stay in between the white lines on the road and decided I needed to get off at the next exit to figure out what was going on. When I got off at the exit, I did not brake in time and therefore, did not come to a stop until after I passed the stop sign at the top of the ramp. Unknowingly, an SBI (State Bureau of Investigators) officer was behind me on the interstate and saw me weaving, and decided to follow me off the interstate. After he witnessed my “reckless driving” at the top of the ramp, he immediately turned his lights on and I pulled over. Unfortunately, I knew something was wrong, but, as happens so many times when my blood sugar drops really low, my brain just wasn’t working. The officer came to my door immediately, and in a very angry tone, he said, “What drugs have you been taking today?” Dazed and confused, I replied, “I don’t take drugs.” He asked me the same question a few more times…and got the same response from me. Frustrated, he said, “Stay put!” and walked back to his car. As I sat in my car and tried to figure out what was going on, it suddenly dawned on me to check my blood sugar with the meter that was on the seat beside me. It read, “45.” At this time, I was only about 5 years into my disease and I had not had many blood sugar readings below 50—and definitely none below 50 while I was driving! In my fog, I tried to figure out what to do. I knew I needed to get something to eat or drink quickly, but I couldn’t find anything in my car or in my purse. Talk about not being prepared!:-( I opened the car door to wave to the officer (who was sitting in his car). He immediately yelled at me to shut the door and stay in my car. At this point, the sweat started to bead on my forehead and I started to panic. What was I going to do? The officer finally came to my door and I was able to utter, “I have diabetes. Please help me…” Luckily, he was familiar with diabetes, but had no clue how to help me. He held my arm and walked me back to his car. He took me about a mile up the road to a Burger King and told me I could go inside and get something to eat. Thank God I was still functioning! I have no clue what I got to eat inside that Burger King, but I feel certain that I got a regular soda and gulped it down. When I went back out to the police car, the officer was a little nicer. He took me back to my car and told me to take better care of myself. That experience showed me how dangerous a person with diabetes CAN be behind the wheel of car, so I don’t get quite as annoyed when I get those forms in the mail. I would like to think that the physicians and the Department of Motor Vehicles are doing their part to reduce the number of unnecessary accidents/deaths due to low blood sugars. However, as I mentioned previously, I have never talked to another person with diabetes who is required to have these forms filled out about them, so I don’t feel so safe when I think about that. In fact, I kind feel like I am being unfairly targeted for some reason. But, maybe I’m looking at it wrong…..What are your thoughts on this topic? Should people with diabetes be required to have their physician complete paperwork on them in order to maintain their driving privileges?
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I think the worst thing is the feeling of panic 
that I get