Driving and diabetes mellitus in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Call for action.
The aim of the present article is to increase awareness concerning safe driving for patients with diabetes in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and to provide recommendations concerning the management of these patients. The cognitive, motor, and sensory skills required for driving can be adversely affected by diabetes as well as the side effects of anti-diabetic medications, particularly hypoglycemia. The prevalence of diabetes in the GCC countries is among the highest in the world. As the number of diabetic drivers in these countries continues to increase, the number at risk of having a motor vehicle accident is also expected to increase. We reviewed the available literature concerning driving and diabetes, particularly in relation to the current situation in the GGC countries. Unfortunately, very little published information is available addressing this issue in the GCC countries. Most of the GCC countries lack legislation on driving and diabetes. We have proposed recommendations to help diabetic drivers in the GCC countries as well as to provide guidance to health care professionals managing these patients.
Dubai Diabetes Center, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: AAHassoun@dha.gov.ae.
Ahmed A K
AAK
Hassoun
Mubarak Al Kabeer Teaching Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Nabila
N
Abdella
Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Monira Al
MA
Arouj
Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Fatehya Al
FA
Awadi
Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
Abdullah Al
AA
Futaisi
The Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
Mohammed Al
MA
Lamki
Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Abdulrazzaq Al
AA
Madani
Bahrain Defense Force Hospital, Riffa, Bahrain.
Feryal Al
FA
Saber
Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Abdallah Ben
AB
Nakhi
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Salem A
SA
Beshyah
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Samer
S
El-Ali
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Tarek M
TM
Fiad
Dr Wiam Clinic for Diabetes and Endocrine Disorders, Riffa, Bahrain.
Wiam I
WI
Hussein
Rashid Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Ghaida
G
Kaddaha
Mediclinic Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Iyad
I
Ksseiry
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Bassem
B
Morcos
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Hussein
H
Saadi
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001364:Awareness; D001445:Bahrain / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology
Diabetes; Diabetic complications; Driving safety; Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries; Hypoglycemia