If you’re one of the millions of Americans with diabetes, you need to understand how blood sugar levels can affect you
Diabetes is incredibly common in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10% of all Americans have this condition. While usually treatable with diet change, medication, and other interventions, uncontrolled diabetes can be incredibly dangerous. It may also lead to a DUI arrest or conviction in one of two ways.
According to a DUI defense lawyer in Riverside, CA, a person with diabetes may be unfairly arrested or even convicted based on their blood sugar levels. The exact mechanism depends on whether they have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
Hypoglycemia can experience symptoms that are often similar to how a person may act if they are intoxicated. For example, a person with low blood sugar may experience confusion, slurred speech, an inability to balance, and sleepiness. These are also all signs of intoxication that law enforcement officers are trained to look for during DUI stops.
In contrast, hyperglycemia doesn’t cause these physical signs of intoxication — but it may still lead to a DUI arrest. Because of the way that our bodies process sugar, if your blood sugar levels are particularly high, they you may have a fruity odor on your breath. This scent may be mistaken for alcohol. In addition, when the body cannot break down sugar for fuel, it processes fat instead. This process produces ketones, which can then show up on a breath test for alcohol because the chemical composition of ketones is similar to the composition of ethyl alcohol. This may give a false positive reading on a roadside breathalyzer or a post-arrest chemical breath test.
Many people with diabetes are not aware that they have the condition, particularly individuals who have developed Type 2 diabetes as they get older. If you are arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, a skilled DUI defense lawyer in Riverside, CA can analyze the facts of your case and ask the sort of questions that may help your defense. If you do have diabetes, your attorney can then use that fact to negotiate a reduction or dismissal of the charges against you — to defend you in court and secure a not guilty verdict.
There are a number of medical conditions and even diets that can lead to false positive DUI test results and even unfair arrests. Understanding how chemical breath tests work is critical to being able to defend against these DUI charges.
At the Chambers Law Firm, we work collaboratively with our clients to develop the best possible defense to California DUI charges. If you are diabetic, this may include seeking medical testing and records to defend you against the charge. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation, contact our law firm today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com.
