Clothes? Check. Shoes? Check.Check. Insulin? Check. If you have diabetes, it takes a little more preparation and planning to travel than for those who don’t have diabetes. Going out of town for vacation or business takes you away from your established daily routines. Changes in activities, what and when you eat, and even time zones can throw off your blood sugar levels, which means you must take extra care to manage your diabetes. Below are some tips that will help you create a foolproof travel plan.
Getting Ready to Go
First, make sure you stock up on any diabetic supplies you use and refill any medications prescribed by your doctor. Have your doctor write a letter explaining how you care for your diabetes and keep it on you at all times. You should also obtain an extra prescription in case your insulin, syringes, medicines, etc. get lost or stolen. This should be kept on you if you are traveling by air to present to security personnel to facilitate your security clearance.
Will you need any immunizations? If so, you should get them well in advance of your trip, as some shots can affect your glucose levels. Familiarize yourself with the medical facilities in the area to which you’ll be traveling in the event you should need to go.
How and What to Pack
Bring extra medications and diabetes supplies (several days’ worth) with you. You never know when you might extend your trip or get stuck in your destination or airport. Keep your syringes, testing supplies and all medicines in your carry-on. Never pack them in your checked bag! You know how easily luggage can get lost.
In case of an emergency, keep your doctor’s name and phone number with you, bring a list of all your medications and dosages, and wear your diabetes identification. Also, be sure to carry some type of sugar with you should you develop hypoglycemia.
Airport Security
You can take your diabetes supplies through security, including syringes if you have insulin with you, but they must all have prescription and manufacturer’s labels. When you approach security checkpoints, inform security personnel that you are diabetic and have supplies with you. If you wear an insulin pump, security will inspect it. Be sure to request that they not remove it.
Insulin Injections
If you need to give yourself an insulin injection on an airplane, you will need only half as much air in your insulin bottle as normal. This is because of the pressurization in planes. Also, be sure to keep your insulin at a proper temperature – between 33 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are traveling to a different time zone, check with your doctor to see if you need to adjust your injection schedule.
Parting Thoughts
It’s always a good idea to let travel and tourism operators such as airlines, cruise ships, trains, hotels, tour guides, etc. know that you are diabetic. They may be able to make accommodations for you such as special meals. Also, because you’ll be out of your normal routine, you should check your blood sugar more often than usual.
If you’re traveling out of the country, it’s a good idea to learn how to say “I have diabetes,” “I need sugar or orange juice” in the local language. If you have an emergency and need to contact an English-speaking doctor, try to reach the American consulate, Red Cross, or local medical schools for a list of doctors.
Taking a vacation with diabetes takes a little extra planning, but it should not inhibit you from enjoying your time away from your normal routine. Have a great time, check!
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