Not many people realize that their low blood glucose levels can trigger behavior that mimics intoxication. You may be feeling weak and dizzy while behind the wheel because of your diabetes, but the police may think that you have been drinking. Diabetes is a common illness in America, which causes a person to become dizzy and slow when their low blood glucose levels suddenly drop. The victims of diabetes may have an attack that triggers blurred vision, slurred speech, weakness, confusion, and a loss of coordination. Sounds like a DUI, doesn't it? According to Diabetes Health, 15 to 20 percent of all drivers in the U.S. are afflicted with diabetes.
When a motorists' blood sugar drops while driving, it can create a dangerous and suspicious situation. These are the exact signs that a police officer is looking for when convicting someone of driving while intoxicated. When you have low blood sugar, you probably will not be able to successfully complete the field sobriety tests that officers ask DUI suspects to perform. Therefore, you may be further incriminated for the crime you didn't commit. Most people would assume that the similarities between a DUI and diabetes would be canceled when the police take a breath test. These tests monitor the amount of alcohol in a person's system and you need to have 0.08 percent to be convicted of drinking while driving. If you haven't had anything to drink, or maybe just one glass, then the chances are that you won't show up as an offender, right?
Well, think again. According to Diabetes Health, some breathalyzers don't actually measure the amount of alcohol in the blood. Instead, they use infrared beams of light to determine how much alcohol is in your system. These beams are absorbed by chemical compounds in the breath sample. So any chemical in your breath that contains the methyl group in its molecular structure heightens your alcohol reading. There are many different compounds that contain the methyl group, such as acetone. A by-product of hyperglycemia is a condition called ketoacidosis, which causes the body to produce acetones. The breathalyzer might read this levels and then show that that driver has a high BAC. Because of your weakened state from low blood sugar, you might be helpless to argue your case.
Recently, a scientific research study did an in depth study on the results of hypoglycemia and how they correlate with a DUI conviction. They discovered that it is very common for police officers to send these ill individuals to court for the crime that they didn't commit. However, because hypoglycemia creates these symptoms, it puts men and women at higher risk of an accident on the road. Even if you are not under the influence of alcohol, you should try to avoid driving when feeling disoriented, weak, and prolonging an inability to focus on the road ahead.
If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, you still may suffer some of the symptoms of low blood sugar. Research shows that some people will receive these symptoms after drinking a small amount of alcohol, especially if they do so without eating. Even though you may not have had enough alcohol to be guilty of a DUI, the effect on your system will produce exaggerated symptoms. Without any alcohol involved, a person who is fasting might face a fasting glycemic condition. This weak state can also occur if you are on a low-carb diet. As you can see, diabetes or a hypoglycemia condition can create a false DUI that is hard to fight on your own. If you are in this situation, then you need to contact a DUI attorney to help represent you in court. It isn't fair that you should have to suffer the consequences of a DUI because of a physiological condition that you can't help.