Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia and Driving Mishaps in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Multi-Center Survey in Japan

Abstract

Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia (IAH) is a common and serious problem in adult patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Driving accidents related to hypoglycemia have been previously described. The aim of this study was to determine
the prevalence of driving mishaps and confirm the association between IAH and such mishaps among Japanese patients’ with T1DM. Clinical data, such as the prevalence of hypoglycemia, IAH, and patients’ behaviors to avoid driving accidents, were surveyed in 133 adult drivers with T1DM at 16 hospitals and clinics in Japan. A stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis of driving mishaps was performed. Driving mishaps were reported in 54.9% of the patients, and 15.8% reported hypoglycemia-related driving mishaps. A stepwise logistic regression analysis found that the presence of IAH (odds ratio [OR]: 5.36; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.59-18.10;
P=0.01) was significantly risk factor for hypoglycemia-related driving mishaps, along with age (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01-1.13;
P=0.02).Driving mishaps may be prevalent in Japanese patients with T1DM. IAH should be considered as a high risk factor for
driving mishaps in this population.