Not too pround of this but...
This was my Thursday.
It got kind of late in the night so I headed to my hometown in Maryland to see friends. I left with check my BG and it was 116. I hang out for awhile and yeah I did have a few beers and a shot. The shot was bought and my bill was nine dollars. I would have had three beers which is how many I remember getting. I wasn't feeling good and looked and took my BG and it was in the 200's. At this poiny I took the correction bolus and and stopped drinking but my pump gave me an alarm for low insulin and it was really low. I didn't realize this before or I would have changed it before I left VA. So I waited awhile but not too long since i only had like 3-4 units left. Checked BG and it was in the 280's. At this point its near midnight so i waited slightly longer and attempted to go home. Getting off the highway I got pulled over for cutting across the lines too quickly. There was no one on the road and the next light that comes quick is where I had to turn. He said I failed for over counting (nervous as hell the entire time) over from 1-8 with stepping. I went to ten. Also I wobbled a little on the holding the leg up but I never lost balance or anything like that.
I mentioned the diabetes the whole time. I told him why i had came home and I had issues with that. I dont think he ever believed I was truly diabetic or that I was explaining it to him right. I requested the paramedics in the beginning and before I was taken in my BG was 353. I have 1.5 units left. Not enough to fix or to continue on. I asked to be able to fill by reservoir up telling him it was really important. i was basically told to shut up and the jail would have everything I need.
Throughout this night I had to fight for them to let me check my BG's All times it was sky high. But in the end I didn't know what I was talking about and was treated like a liar and complainer. I was offered 70/30 but I've never used that and don't know the specifics. I asked the nurses (which the first nurse was rude and in my opinion doesn't understand the differences in diabetes nor know how to care for either) if they could properly administer it to lower my sugar since I really don't know much about it. I was ignored from there on and they never helped beyond that.
They did check my A1c though which is how I know it's 6.5 right now. but regardless this was a long, miserable night and i felt like trash the entire day Friday.
Also on a side note my charge is blowing a .07.
1. How bad is this going to hurt me driving with diabetes alone.
2. Are they allowed to treat me like this?
3. Can I use the diabetes as helpful cause with the difficulties during the tests I was given or is that going to cause major concerns with ? one?
Please don't criticize me too much. I know I made some mistakes in this but normally I do not. I really felt I was OK to drive and had no other choice to get insulin.
It got kind of late in the night so I headed to my hometown in Maryland to see friends. I left with check my BG and it was 116. I hang out for awhile and yeah I did have a few beers and a shot. The shot was bought and my bill was nine dollars. I would have had three beers which is how many I remember getting. I wasn't feeling good and looked and took my BG and it was in the 200's. At this poiny I took the correction bolus and and stopped drinking but my pump gave me an alarm for low insulin and it was really low. I didn't realize this before or I would have changed it before I left VA. So I waited awhile but not too long since i only had like 3-4 units left. Checked BG and it was in the 280's. At this point its near midnight so i waited slightly longer and attempted to go home. Getting off the highway I got pulled over for cutting across the lines too quickly. There was no one on the road and the next light that comes quick is where I had to turn. He said I failed for over counting (nervous as hell the entire time) over from 1-8 with stepping. I went to ten. Also I wobbled a little on the holding the leg up but I never lost balance or anything like that.
I mentioned the diabetes the whole time. I told him why i had came home and I had issues with that. I dont think he ever believed I was truly diabetic or that I was explaining it to him right. I requested the paramedics in the beginning and before I was taken in my BG was 353. I have 1.5 units left. Not enough to fix or to continue on. I asked to be able to fill by reservoir up telling him it was really important. i was basically told to shut up and the jail would have everything I need.
Throughout this night I had to fight for them to let me check my BG's All times it was sky high. But in the end I didn't know what I was talking about and was treated like a liar and complainer. I was offered 70/30 but I've never used that and don't know the specifics. I asked the nurses (which the first nurse was rude and in my opinion doesn't understand the differences in diabetes nor know how to care for either) if they could properly administer it to lower my sugar since I really don't know much about it. I was ignored from there on and they never helped beyond that.
They did check my A1c though which is how I know it's 6.5 right now. but regardless this was a long, miserable night and i felt like trash the entire day Friday.
Also on a side note my charge is blowing a .07.
1. How bad is this going to hurt me driving with diabetes alone.
2. Are they allowed to treat me like this?
3. Can I use the diabetes as helpful cause with the difficulties during the tests I was given or is that going to cause major concerns with ? one?
Please don't criticize me too much. I know I made some mistakes in this but normally I do not. I really felt I was OK to drive and had no other choice to get insulin.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Wolfgang on
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I understand the dilema. Its a shame things came to that result.
I find it difficult to believe that you can blow a 0.07 after 3 drinks. Diabetes has made me a measurement freak, so I even measure BAC on my infrequent benders (from Home) and I find it difficult to reach 0.1, not that I'm competing. To that point, you must have metabolized part of the alcohol you consumed.
Here is what I can tell you -- as a diabetic you will metabolize alcohol slower. Another thing, if your blood sugar is high (as you mentioned it was) you may smell more like alcohol. The cause is acetone. Breathalizers do not measure quantity of alcohol per volume of breath. Rather they do a fair job, in most cases, of picking up on substances of a similar composition as alcohol and determining the ratio... Acetone falls in that category of substance. If your sugar was high, its possible you had a false reading. It may have benefited you to defer to a blood alcohol test, which many states have started to place at DWI checkpoints.
I have opinions on why they performed an A1C test and I think it was ignorant. They apparently assume if your A1C is bad (according to their scale) perhaps it would justify something? Couldnt they also pull a BAC test from that blood?
In response to your questions:
1. I dont know, but assume similar to non-D situation.
2. Well I'm sure they've heard every excuse in the book. Why would they treat you any different? I doubt your going to catch them on any form of negligence since they probably followed protocol to a tee.
3. Perhaps, tell your lawyer about the acetone angle.
Dont ever give anyone an excuse to do this to you again. Good Luck.
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Permalink Reply by Tim on -
Ignoring the alcohol stuff...
If I was driving with extreme bg's (either high or low) and got pulled over and they ran a bg test, I'd kinda expect to get charged with DWI (driving while impaired) just for having the bg's so far out of whack.
I'd expect my meter readings (maybe even the meter itself) to be taken as evidence against me.
Any verbal admission that the bg's being out of whack was having any effect at all on me, I'd expect to be used against me in a court of law.
Maybe I come from a different generation - I certainly spent ALL of my youth trying to sneak around with insulin and syringes in my pocket and not get in trouble with the man because of it. I don't want witch hunts against diabetics who have bg's out of whack by any means. Driving while impaired is certainly not the same as driving while diabetic (aka DWD) but if I started making a big deal out of my diabetes after getting pulled over I bet the line would blur in the authorities' heads. Certainly any bg's after incarceration, after being denied insulin for the pump, I wouldn't want to be held against me as a "cause" of my problems. I wonder if they'll try to make a big deal out of the A1C you say they took from your blood. That would be pretty evil.
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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on -
Does .07 pass? That is the main test to pass. I am pretty sure they are allowed to treat you pretty much however you want. Although there can be quite a bit that goes into those things. E.G if the prosecutor reviews things and feels like maybe they can get you, maybe they will? Usually I think that if you "pass the alcohol test", thats all they will look at. I am in Illinois which is .08. I work investigating car accidents and every now and then we "run into" one where the blood evidence can be called into question and will spend money hiring experts to review and debate about the propriety of the evidence and what the numbers mean. I'd be concerned about the A1C though, did they do a blood draw? If they lured you in w/ the A1C and got your blood, the blood test can be different from a breathalyzer. Since your breath test was "close", if they got your blood, they will likely send it to a lab and get the results back in while. Unfortunately, they may be different, maybe better, maybe worse?
Once I was driving to get snacks as I had some bizarre craving and rolled a stop sign (safely, but still...) and explained to the cop that my blood sugar was low and I needed to get to the store. He offered to get me to the hospital and give me a DUI (of insulin...) or the stop sign ticket so I took the latter. Laws vary from state to state, Did they file charges yet or say they'd get back to you? If they said they have to get back to you, they probably have to run the whole case by a state's attorney and, if they are waiting for lab results, find out what they are. If you know how many beers you had, and if you had a shot or two, perhaps you can find a "drink/ size" chart and evaluate your chances of beating the test? Many people "remember" having had "2-3" beers but lab results suggest a different number. If I were in that situation, I would talk to a lawyer and explain your case. Most of the time, they can tell you what your options are like "if you hire [give the lawyer a bunch of money...], I can get those charges reduced to XXXXXX and, if you are found guilty, I can get you off with a fine of $XXXX" if it's your first offense. You can also wait and see if they file charges but, if they do, they may arrest you first and it may be easier to plan your defense before anything drastic happens. The diabetes could be a "two-edged" sword but, in the cases I've run into where it's come up, I haven't encountered anyone who knows anything about it (attorneys, cops, etc.).
Please be careful! I usually try to ride my bike when I go out whoopin' and hollerin' these days. A bit dicier in winter but less entanglements.
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Permalink Reply by Randy on -
Get a good lawyer. Sounds canned, but do not take this on yourself! It sounds to me like you have some good arguments to mitigate a DUI charge. It also sounds like you won't try that trick again. I personally would never worry about driving after a beer or two with a meal. In my past life that is. Now days, after seeing how my BG can be affected by alcohol I just don't have that beer if I am going to drive. Plus $5000 can buy a lot of cab rides.
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Permalink Reply by Leo2 on -
1. What is the state's number that = DUI? This has nothing to do with driving with diabetes unless you bring it up.
The charge is related to alcohol. There isn't money for hiring experts right now.
2. Yes. They can say they offered you "insulin" when you were high. They allowed yout to check your BGs. They ignore statements "had to fight...to let me check my BGs". They attribute that to inebriation.
3. No. Diabetes won't help you. Again, the charge .is.. alcohol. The short answer is "You have the responsibility as a diabetic to not drive impaired." Allowing more time after drinking can lower your number.
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Permalink Reply by alwaystempted on -
I'll keep this updated as I continue with lawyers. This is my first offense and my driving record isn't bad in the least. Thanks everyone for the information.
The A1c was done but a fingerstick test. I've never seen that before.
Also my charge is a DUI and since I'm below .08 they have to prove the alcohol was impairing me.
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Permalink Reply by Randy on
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Hang in there alwaystempted (HMMM)
I always gave my wife a hard time because she WILL NOT DRIVE if she had any (and I do mean any) alcohol that day. Yes, all day and any amount. But after seeing what people must go through for this charge I don't say anything about it now. She drives if we go out.
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Permalink Reply by Dennis on
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Ready?
1. Don't use your Diabetes as an Excuse.. They can Auto Suspend your License for being Impaired and Require you to provide a Dr's Report your Under Control for Months! And Effects the Insurance As well. (To be sure, ck your states Laws on Diabetics getting Tickets, etc..)
2. Yes on the Lawyer.. and better have Deep pockets.. Cost a Friend of mine $12k
3. Guess they didn't tell you when Diagnosed or When you Got into Your Teens? T1's shouldn't even Bother Drinking! Not until you know Exactly What the Sugar and Carbs are and how to treat it..
And that Comes from doing alot of Testing at Home, in a Controlled Enviroment.. THEN you might be ready to handle drinking Beer at the most.. Not Wine or Booze..out on the street-Bar..
I can drink a few Beers and Even pretty much everything else .. since I know what each requires per Insulin. Mixed Drinks have a Double Whammy.. The Booze and The Mix.. But, I still don;t bother..
and of course, Not on a Empty Stomach.. and Not Pretzels, Chips , even Peanuts at the bar.. either..They have a Ton of Carbs..
You have a 6.5 A1c? Not bad, but not all that great either, for a Younger Person.. You can and should be at or < 6% if not in the 5's..
For you see, Once you get those 'Complications?" The damage has been Done and will get worse if you dont get those <6% A1c's, Not go above 140's and Not go below 70's as best you can.. and that's Only with a Pump and having alot of Self Control and Discipline..
I had 6.5-7% A1c's for my 1st 10 yrs.. Not Knowing half the Right stuff.. Poor Endo's to Didn't know about Some Books, like THINK LIKE A PANCREASE -Dr. Bernsteins- Diabetic Solutions to John Walsh's Using Insulin.. and became Self Aware of the Truths..
Learn from your Mistakes and Go Forward.. And Hopefully this will be a 'Silver Lining" Episode in your Diabetes Life..
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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on
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One other thing I'd add re the reported BG is that a lot of microbrews/ "chunkier" beers which seem to be quite popular these days have quite a few carbs and, at least in my experience, will push your BG up, as the original poster reported. I don't recall ever having my BG go down from drinking but I tend to eat pretty much too. I will overbolus for the carbs and then drink to "catch up" and have a nice bike ride home. I'm pretty sure bicycling under the influence is also technically illegal but I haven't ever heard of anyone getting a ticket for it?
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Permalink Reply by alwaystempted on
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Regardless on what happens I think I'm done drinking now. Maybe on special occasions but I need to cross it out of life as an activity. I quit smoking cigarettes three years ago. I should make the best of this and consider it a wake up call to cross drinking out of my life.
Even now I'm out with friends at a bar with my diet coke being DD.
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Permalink Reply by Leo2 on
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Every week come on here and say this.
The best thing will be to stay quiet, answer yes, sir, no, sir, and it will go ok.
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Permalink Reply by still_young_at_heart on -
If you can afford it, I would suggest always carrying a pen of rapid in case of a pump problem. Even if you hadn't been drinking, the stress of trying to get home with a nearly empty pump would have made the night really unpleasant..
Good luck with this. My guess is that a good lawyer who specializes in DUI will be able to get you off with classes, a fine and a large legal bill. And congratulations on kicking the cigarettes - that's big.
Maurie
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