Travel when you have Diabetes

I am getting ready for a weekend trip, so travel is foremost in my mind. Plus, this last week, a patient of mine was leaving for her honeymoon, so we talked a bit about planning for travel as a Type 1 Diabetic. I thought maybe some of you might have some questions about this as well.{{more}}

Everyone gets stressed during travel, and when you have a chronic illness that is readily affected by stress, food and changes in schedule, as Diabetes is, you should try to make some preparations ahead of time to make things easier. It also helps to have emergency plans in place, just in case.

So, in regard to the ahead-of-time preparations regarding medications etc:

1) Be sure you have packed not only the amount of medication you need for the trip, but EXTRA just in case you end up delayed somewhere. Your medication should always be packed on your person, NOT in the suitcase that gets checked.

2) If you are traveling to an unfamiliar place, especially where a language other than your primary language (English for us) is spoken, find out ahead of time where the nearest hospital/clinic would be. That way, if you need medical help, you don’t need to locate it in another language on top of everything else going on.

3) Check and see if the airline needs a letter about your insulin syringes/needles. Most of them do not and are quite familiar with these medications, but find out ahead of time.

4) Be sure you have an ice pack to take your insulin if you take this medication. Insulin that is overheated goes bad and will not work.

Regarding the trip itself and taking care of yourself:

-Try to take your own foods in small amounts to snack, if necessary. You know how it is these days. You go almost 100 hours (well it feels like that anyway) on a plane before they give you anything to eat! If you have your own snacks, you are better off.

– Drink lots of water; stay well hydrated.

– Allow yourself some leeway in your blood sugar numbers. Travel is stressful, and it is likely your blood sugars will bounce around a bit.

That is okay, so long as they do not go too high or too low. Don’t worry about it; they will level off again soon.

Safe travels to those of you heading out sometime in future! Until next week, stay safe and healthy Vincies!

Anita Ramsetty, MD
Roper Endocrinology, RSFH
anita.ramsetty@rsfh.com
843-720-8438