Diabetes Driving Pal Helps People with Diabetes Stay Safe Behind the Wheel in the Face of Low Blood Sugar Episodes
Helping people with diabetes live healthier, safer lives is a daily pursuit for Dr. Viral Shah. As a physician scientist and clinician specializing in diabetes at Indiana University, Dr. Shah spends his days immersed in the world of blood sugar management, new technologies, and patient care. Now, with his new app, he’s going beyond the walls of the clinic to help patients stay safe on the road.
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The Challenge: A Hidden Danger on the Road
Imagine hurtling down the highway, the wind whipping through your hair, the radio blasting your favorite song. It's a picture of freedom, a feeling of control. But for millions of people with Type 1 diabetes, this seemingly ordinary act of driving can harbor a hidden danger – low blood sugar episodes.
These episodes, characterized by a sudden drop in blood sugar levels, can cause a cascade of symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, and impaired judgment. Behind the wheel, even a brief episode can be catastrophic.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects more than 8.4 million people globally. With T1D, the body can’t produce insulin, a hormone essential for regulating blood sugar levels. This constant state of insulin deficiency makes people with Type 1 highly susceptible to blood sugar fluctuations, with episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) occurring frequently. Pretty much everyone with T1D experiences low blood glucose almost daily and 70% of people with T1D experience at least one hypoglycemic episode while driving. Though early Type 2 diabetes is primarily managed through lifestyle changes and medications, after 15-20 years of T2D, most people require insulin therapy to control blood sugar and can experience similar risks of hypoglycemia while driving.
From Frustration to Inspiration: The Birth of Diabetes Driving Pal
The impetus for Diabetes Driving Pal arose from a simple observation.
"Many of my patients with Type 1 diabetes confided in me about experiencing low blood sugar episodes while driving," says Viral Shah, MD, an endocrinologist at Indiana University. He was shocked and concerned, but since he works as a clinical researcher, that wasn’t enough – he wanted more data points. Dr. Shah conducted a survey at the Barbara Davies Center in Colorado, his previous institution, and it revealed that a staggering 72% of respondents reported experiencing at least one low blood sugar episode while driving and even more concerning, 4% admitted to having had a vehicular accident due to low blood sugar in the previous two years. Interestingly, more than 90% of the survey population used continuous glucose monitors and/or insulin pumps. The study was published in the journal Diabetes Care.
Dr. Shah's survey, while geographically limited, paints a concerning bigger picture. If 4% of survey respondents in Colorado had accidents due to low blood sugar, this could translate to tens of thousands of accidents annually caused by hypoglycemia behind the wheel.
Frustrated by the lack of existing solutions and deeply concerned about the potential for tragedy, Dr. Shah knew he had to do something. He assembled a team of experts, including clinicians and an engineering professor. Together, they set out to create a technological safeguard for drivers with diabetes.
Diabetes Driving Pal: Your Real-Time Copilot
The Diabetes Driving Pal app acts as a copilot for drivers with Type 1 diabetes. It will be designed to integrate with existing continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs), which provide real-time blood sugar readings. Here's how it works:
Tiered Alert System: Imagine a three-tiered system, each level designed to gently guide you back into the safe zone. For slightly low blood sugar readings, the app provides a discreet alert, similar to standard CGM notifications. This is your chance to take a preventative sip of juice or a quick bite of food to raise your blood sugar.
Personalized Intervention: If your blood sugar continues to drop rapidly, the app kicks into a higher gear. Utilizing your pre-set preferences and location data, it suggests nearby options to raise your blood sugar levels, like a Starbucks or a convenience store with sugary snacks.
Emergency Action: In the most critical situations, where blood sugar plummets to a medically dangerous level, the app doesn't hesitate. It automatically calls a designated emergency contact or 911, ensuring you receive the help you need.
This personalized, multi-layered approach is what sets Diabetes Driving Pal apart. "It's not a one-size-fits-all solution," explains Dr. Shah. "We empower users to customize their experience through settings, making it truly user friendly."
Beyond the Horizon
While the initial focus is on improving safety for individual drivers with diabetes, Dr. Shah has a vision that extends beyond personal vehicles. He sees the app's functionality having a significant impact on the safety of entire fleets operated by companies like Uber, Lyft, and trucking companies.
This type of integration could not only safeguard drivers but also enhance passenger and public safety on the roads. Furthermore, by demonstrating a commitment to driver health and wellbeing, companies could attract and retain top talent in a competitive marketplace.
Dr. Shah is early in his entrepreneurial journey and knows that achieving this ambitious vision requires collaboration. "We're actively seeking partnerships with fleet management companies, diabetes organizations, and insurance providers," he says. “We’re also building our internal team and are seeking tech developers and operators passionate about this space.” By building bridges between stakeholders, Dr. Shah hopes to be a key part of a comprehensive ecosystem that supports not just safe driving but holistic diabetes management.
At StartUp Health we’re excited to see Dr. Shah leveraging his experience as an endocrinologist and accomplished diabetes researcher to create an app that is deeply researched and anchored in the patient experience. We’re also excited and encouraged by his collaborative mindset as he steps into the StartUp Health T1D Moonshot. Together we can build more holistic, patient-centered solutions for people with diabetes.
Join us in welcoming Viral Shah, MD, and the Diabetes Driving Pal team to the StartUp Health community.
Connect with Diabetes Driving Pal via email
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Published: Apr 25, 2024