When your teenager first mentions learning to drive, don’t panic!! Any parent is anxious when their teenager wants to learn to drive.
However, with a responsible attitude, driving is generally safe, and research shows that people with diabetes do not have a greater frequency of motor accidents than anyone else. The major added risk for the teenager with diabetes is hypoglycaemia (hypos).
It’s very important that they have a good knowledge about hypos – their symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Driving and alcohol is illegal. In a teenager with diabetes, alcohol may cause delayed hypos.
It is important for your teenager to check their blood glucose prior to driving a car and be above 5mmol/L to drive and to have hypo treatment readily at hand.
Each State and Territory has its own regulations regarding the allocation of licences to people with diabetes.
For further information on driving and type 1 diabetes visit:
