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Was your diabetes responsible for your DUI charge?

On Behalf of | Feb 28, 2017 | Drunk Driving

Adult-onset diabetes is a relatively common medical condition. Most people are aware that they are pre-diabetic before they develop full-blown diabetes symptoms. For those who aren’t having their medical status or blood sugar monitored, however, it is possible develop symptoms of diabetes without much warning. For some adults, this could result in mildly impaired driving and body conditions which result in a false reading on a breathalyzer. If you believe your recent DUI charge stems from your diabetes, you should speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Particularly if you recently received your diagnosis, it is possible that you don’t have your blood sugar or symptoms under control. Your attorney can review your medical records and arrest records and help you determine if your diabetes impacted your driving or failure of a roadside sobriety test.

Diabetes causes hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can cause a condition called ketoacidosis. One of the symptoms or byproducts of ketoacidosis is the production of acetone. Breathalyzer tests work by detecting a particular kind of molecule, called methyl group molecules, in the breath sampled. Alcohol is a methyl molecule. So is acetone. If you were in a state of ketoacidosis when you were pulled over, the acetone in your breath could have resulted in a false positive on your breath test.

Those who are diabetic should be managing and monitoring their blood sugar to ensure they are driving safely. However, if you were recently diagnosed or undiagnosed at the time of your DUI charge or arrest, it’s a reasonable oversight to drive while hypoglycemic if you are unaware of the condition.

Breathalyzers aren’t always accurate

Diabetes is just one of several medical conditions, such as auto-brewery syndrome, which could cause a false reading on a breathalyzer. If you have reason to believe that a medical condition, and not alcohol consumption, factored into your failed breathalyzer test, you need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Not only can your attorney connect you with a medical doctor who can determine if your blood sugar played a part in your DUI, he or she can also advise the courts of your medical condition and how it may have impacted your arrest and charges.

An attorney is your best bet when facing a DUI

If you are facing charges for driving under the influence, you need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. A public defender, no matter how well-intentioned, will simply be too overworked to give your case the focus it needs. The consequences of being convicted of a DUI are high. Particularly if there are mitigating circumstances, you need the best possible legal representation.

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