Driving and diabetes mellitus in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Call for action.

The aim of the present article is to increase awareness concerning safe driving for patients with diabetes in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and to provide recommendations concerning the management of these patients. The cognitive, motor, and sensory skills required for driving can be adversely affected by diabetes as well as the side effects of anti-diabetic medications, particularly hypoglycemia. The prevalence of diabetes in the GCC countries is among the highest in the world. As the number of diabetic drivers in these countries continues to increase, the number at risk of having a motor vehicle accident is also expected to increase. We reviewed the available literature concerning driving and diabetes, particularly in relation to the current situation in the GGC countries. Unfortunately, very little published information is available addressing this issue in the GCC countries. Most of the GCC countries lack legislation on driving and diabetes. We have proposed recommendations to help diabetic drivers in the GCC countries as well as to provide guidance to health care professionals managing these patients.

Evidence of human immunodeficiency virus-associated lipodystrophy syndrome in children treated with protease inhibitors.

We conducted a prospective evaluation for evidence of the HIV-associated lipodystrophy syndrome of 26 children infected with HIV-1. Six children had evidence of body fat redistribution. Nine children showed laboratory evidence of insulin resistance. All children with body fat distribution or insulin resistance had been treated with protease inhibitors. Children treated with protease inhibitors had higher total cholesterol, higher low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and higher triglycerides than untreated children.