Whether you travel for business or pleasure, local or international, when you have diabetes it’s important to plan ahead. The following tips will help you have a safe and hassle free trip.
Start Early
An early start is particularly important for overseas travel. Schedule an office visit with your health care provider 4 – 6 weeks before your scheduled departure date.
Bring your itinerary to discuss if you need to make changes in your diabetes routine. Time zone changes may require more or less diabetes medication. Eastward travel means a shorter day. If you take insulin, less may be needed. Westward travel means a longer day, and you may require more insulin.
Ask your health care provider for a letter outlining your diabetes regimen, including your diabetes and any other medicine you take. Your diabetes supplies should also be described in the letter.
Make sure you are up to date with immunizations.
Find out where to get medical care if needed when away from home.
Pack Properly
Take twice the amount of diabetes medicine and supplies that you would normally need, in case of travel delays. Better safe than sorry.
Glucose gels, tablets, candy, and regular soft drinks to relieve symptoms of hypoglycemia – low blood sugar.
Snacks such as breakfast bars, cheese crackers, granola bars, and trail milk to eat when meals are missed or delayed.
Keep snacks, glucose gel, or tablets with you.
If you use insulin, make sure you also pack a glucagon emergency kit.
Make sure you keep your prescriptions, health insurance card and emergency phone numbers handy including your doctor’s name and phone number.
Wear medical identification such as a Medic Alert necklace or bracelet that says you have diabetes.
Don’t forget to pack a first aid kit.
Road Trips
If traveling with insulin do not store it in the trunk, glove box, or near a window – it might overheat. If possible, carry a cooler in the car to keep insulin cool, but do not place insulin directly on ice or on a gel pack.
Air Travel
Plan to carry all your diabetes supplies in your carry-on luggage. Don’t risk a lost suitcase.
Have all syringes and insulin delivery systems (including vials of insulin) clearly marked with the preprinted pharmacy label that identifies the medicine. The airline industry recommends that patients travel with their original pharmacy labeled packaging.
If you don’t want to walk through the metal detector with your insulin pump, tell a security officer that you are wearing an insulin pump and ask for a visual inspection of the pump and a security pat-down.
Keep your diabetes medications and emergency snacks with you at your seat – don’t store them in an overhead bin.
If using a vial and syringe to draw up your dose of insulin, don’t inject air into the bottle (the air on your plane will probably be pressurized).
Contact airlines for special meals if needed. However, you should always carry enough food to cover the entire flight time in case of delays or schedule changes.
If the airline offers a meal, ask when the meal will be served, so you know when to take your diabetes medicine.
Staying Healthy While Traveling
Reduce your risk of blood clots by moving around every hour or two.
Stick with your exercise routine. Be sure to get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.
Wash your hands often with soap and water.
Protect your feet. Be especially careful of the hot pavement by pools and hot sand on beaches.
Never go barefoot.
For more information about traveling with diabetes, visit the Transportation Security Administration website (TSA): http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/passengers-diabetes.
For more information about managing your health abroad, visit the U.S. Department of State website: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/health.html
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