The aim of the audit was to identify the driving behaviour and hypoglycaemic management of 72 patients on intensive insulin therapy in 2010 and 2011.
Method: Patients completed a cross-sectional questionnaire prior to their attendance at a self-management course .This included a validated question to assess the presence of hypo unawareness(1) and 5 non-validated questions examining patients’ understanding and self-management of hypoglycaemia including driving behaviour .
Of the 72 respondents 37.5% were female with an average age of 48.3 years and an average duration of diabetes of 15.6 years, and 62.5% male with average age of 49.8 years and an average duration of diabetes of 12.3 years
Results: Hypoglycaemia Unawareness- ten (13.9 %) of the subjects were hypoglycaemia unaware, 60 (83.3%) had acceptable level of hypglycaemia awareness and two (2.8%) stated they had never had a hypo.
Hypoglycaemia Beliefs
1.”Below what blood glucose level would you define a hypo?”

2 “At what blood glucose level do you feel the first sign of a hypo?” the average BGL threshold was 3.5 mmol/L ( Range <2 - 5 mmol/L).
3. “When testing your blood, have you ever had a BGL result less than 4 mmol/L and you haven’t had any hypo symptoms? “: 29 (40%) stated yes.
4, “Do you carry food/drink to treat hypos with you?”: Always 28 (38.9%), Most of the time 19(26.4%,) Sometimes 11 (15.3%) Never 2(2.8%), omitted answer 12 (16.6%)
Driving behaviour - 27 (37.5%) reported that they never tested their blood glucose levels (BGL) before driving as compared to 6 (8.3%) who always tested, 13 (18%) who tested most of the time, 20 (27.8%) tested some times and 6 (8.3% ) who don’t drive.
Conclusions: A number of patients demonstrated inadequate appreciation of hypoglycaemia,poor understanding of hypoglycaemia treatment and risky driving behaviours.