DFM & DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFER LIFE-SAVING LICENSES & TAGS TO THOSE WITH DIABETES

After feeling sick for a few days and being unable to stomach anything he ate, Marlo White called his friend Randy to come over and help him find a home remedy. Walking past White's car, Randy noticed a "D-Feet Diabetes" license plate and understood the likelihood that his friend's problems were diabetes related.

When White lost consciousness, Randy called 911, and White was taken to the hospital.

"Had Randy not seen the tag, that would've been it," said White, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 14. "I would've passed away, died. The doctor told me that."

White's experience is a familiar one to many individuals suffering from hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis and requiring emergency attention.

Because of stories like White's, the Department of Public Safety and the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (DFM) tag-teamed to promote a color-coded driver's license and license plate for individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The license and license plate aid law-enforcement officers in identifying people who may be experiencing problems behind the wheel.

The driver's license has a purple star on the bottom of the license, indicating that the driver has diabetes. There is also a space on the license to list whether the individual is insulin dependent or takes oral medications. The license plate is also available to all Mississippi drivers with diabetes. The plate has the DFM's logo on it and says "D-Feet Diabetes."

"We wanted to ensure that a person with diabetes, who may be in trouble from experiencing high or low blood sugar while operating a vehicle, is recognized immediately by law enforcement," said DFM Executive Vice President Mary Fortune. "Because an individual undergoing an episode of hypoglycemia may not be able to physically tell the law-enforcement officer that he or she has diabetes, these services to individuals with diabetes are vitally important to saving lives."

Too little sugar in the blood can cause a person with diabetes to become hypoglycemic. Warning signs include confusion and sometimes personality change. An individual suffering from hypoglycemia also may become pale and experience sweating, rapid pulse rate, shallow breathing, trembling and faintness.

Joe Solowiejczyk, manager of counseling and presentations for the Animas Corporation, offered a few tips for ensuring the safety of both the driver as well as the others on the road with the driver.

First, the individual should check his or her blood sugar before starting the car's ignition. Treating for highs or lows should take place before leaving, and the person should wait approximately 15 minutes before turning on the car.

"Keep a blood-sugar machine with you at all times, as well as some glucose tabs, extra insulin and syringes," Solowiejczyk said. "And remember: driving involves more than you! This is where your diabetes could become a ‘public' issue if you do not take care of it responsibly in private."

If the color-coded driver's license or license plate helped even one person, the project would be worth the effort, said Jim Ingram, retired public safety commissioner.

Kay Carlton, of Jackson, said she would elect to have the license.

"I have never been pulled over myself, but I have always heard stories of that happening," she said. "I've been around other people with diabetes who act confused. If I were ever in an accident, for any reason, not even related to diabetes, I'd want the person that identified me to know I have diabetes. They may not look at a medic-alert bracelet, but they will look at driver's license."

Ingram said officers are being trained to look for the purple star and the license plate and then take the appropriate action.

"We can call an ambulance or take them to the nearest medical facility," Ingram said.

There is no additional charge for the license plates if the car title is registered in the name of the driver who has diabetes. However, if the title is in someone else's name, but the person with diabetes is the primary driver of the car, there is a charge of $31 for a diabetes license plate.