Medical equipment maker Medtronic said that it is launching a program designed to help teens with diabetes stay safe behind the wheel, according to a company press release.
The TestB4U Drive program will kick off on July 19 at The Forum in Los Angeles and continue, in conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes No Limits Foundation, in three other locations throughout the summer. Here’s the schedule:
– July 19-21, The Forum, Los Angeles
– July 26-28, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo. (Denver area)
– August 2-4, KCI Expo Center, Kansas City, Mo.
– August 9-11, Standard Bank Stadium, Crestwood, Ill. (Chicago area)
“Test B4U Drive was inspired by the most important part of a teen driver’s diabetes management plan — checking his or her glucose level before getting behind the wheel,” said Francine Kaufman, M.D., chief medical officer and vice president, global medical, clinical and health affairs for the Diabetes business at Medtronic. “If a teen’s glucose level is low or high, it must be treated and reach a normal range before driving.”
Car crashes are the leading cause of death among young adults aged 15 to 20 years old. For teens with diabetes, it’s important to minimize the risk of a hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic event while behind the wheel. To do so, the program will provide hands-on training, via interactive classroom sessions, led by professional instructors that help the teens identify and react to potential problems while driving. It will teach kids to check their sugar levels before driving, pulling over in a safe area to check again during long trips and keeping the correct supplies handy to deal with highs and lows.
Getting behind the wheel while suffering from a hypoglycemic event, or having a low blood sugar while driving, can lead to dire consequences. Last month, Diabetes News Hound ran a column about 59-year old Leonard Campos, who is facing manslaughter charges after his low blood sugar level caused him to pass out behind the wheel. The ensuing wreck killed a pedestrian and injured Campos and a passenger. Campos pleaded not guilty to the charges.
You can check the conversation we had with the District Attorney prosecuting the case (See: DA in Car Crash Death: Diabetes Not on Trial).
To receive free news updates from Diabetes News Hound delivered straight to your Inbox, sign up here.
If you already receive the free Alerts, spread the word by telling a friend to sign up here.
