Okay, now that you've caught your breath, it's time to think about teens and driving. Because as stressful as it is for any parent to train his child to drive and then send him on his way, parents of kids with diabetes win the prize.

The Law and Diabetes

Yes, you can get a driver's license if you have diabetes. But in some states, you may be required to submit some sort of medical documentation beforehand. In Texas, for example, all new drivers are asked if they have diabetes and if they've had severe lows or complications. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may be required to submit documentation from your doctor.

It is important to let your teen know from the start that while getting a low is not their fault, driving while low can be punishable by law. If a person with diabetes has a car accident while low (or extremely high), he or she can be held accountable. Explain to your child that driving while low is much like driving while drunk. Her instincts and reactions will be impaired, and because it is her responsibility to check before driving (or during driving on a long trip), the law may hold her accountable.

How to Start

Setting rules before your teen ever gets behind the wheel is the right way to start. It's safe to say that every person with diabetes (particularly those who experience lows or have trouble detecting lows) need to check his or her blood sugar before even starting the engine. Set a higher driving target range than your usual range. In other words, if you consider 70–130 within range, make 100–180 your driving range.

Set time limits on how often your child needs to check her blood sugar levels when driving. For instance, if she is heading out on a long trip, or just planning on cruising around town with her friends, you may want to have her check her blood sugar every two hours.

Your teen driver with diabetes should always have a fast-acting carb in the car. A juice box or two or glucose tabs will suffice. Encourage him to pull over when he feels low (and make sure to teach him, from the get-go, how and where to pull over safely on any road).

When to Say No

Driving a car is a privilege, one that your child has more responsibility to earn than most kids. Like irresponsible kids who speed or drink and drive, teens with diabetes who do not follow their special rules agreed on by their family and medical team must not be allowed to drive.

So what actions warrant taking away the car keys? If your teen is not following the rules and checking and treating her blood sugars before driving and during long drives, you've got to ground her because, like it or not, this action is for the safety of the general public as well as your child.

Beyond that, you may want to set some other rules that are deal breakers, such as manipulating meters or otherwise lying about blood sugars (or not checking. It's all about trust. Trusting your child behind the wheel of a car is a big deal, and if she betrays your trust in general, it will take time (non-driving time that is) for her to win it back.

You'll want to practice what you preach, too. You are not alone: All parents are fearful when their children begin to drive, with or without diabetes. Your child may be motivated enough about the chance to drive that he'll surprise you and be responsible and careful.