Travelling With Diabetes
 Travelling with diabetes requires
preparation both before and during your trip. Here are 11
tips to help you make sure your diabetes doesn't interfere
with the pleasures of travel.
1. Visit your doctor at least a month
before you leave to make sure your diabetes is under
control. If you need to do any stabilizing, a month will
give you enough time. The same month should let your body
settle down after any necessary immunization shots, so get
those at the same time.
2. Get a letter from your doctor
certifying that you are diabetic, and listing the various
medications and supplies you must carry with you. Without
this, you might have difficulties passing through Security
at airports and international border crossings.
3. Also get a prescription for your
insulin or other diabetes medication. Even though you should
have enough syringes, strips and medication to last for the
duration of your trip, it's always good to have a
prescription in case you lose them, they become spoiled
because of extreme weather conditions, or your trip lasts
longer than you original planned.
4. Wear an ID bracelet announcing
your have diabetes, and also carry a small card saying so in
the local language of the places you will be visiting.
5. Learn to express specific diabetic
requirements in the local languages. It's best to carry
these phrases on a card and simply point to what you need,
as you probably won't know how to pronounce them correctly.
6. Pack at least twice as much
medication and supplies as you think you'll need. Put half
in your suitcase, and half in a special bag that never
leaves your possession. The container for these supplies
should be sturdy, preferably hard sided, for protection.
7. Carry a sealed pack containing
hard candies or glucose tablets in case irregular eating
makes your blood sugar drop too low. Your pack should also
contain emergency snacks, such as crackers, cheese, fruit,
juice --- in case you must wait too long between meals,
which can happen when we are traveling.
8. Insulin can lose its strength in
extreme temperatures, so carry your supply, as well as pills
and other medication, in a thermally insulated bag.
9. Carry bandages and first-aid
cream, comfortable walking shoes and protective beach shoes.
Your feet neet extra special care while you're traveling.
10. While on your trip, check your
blood sugar more often than usual. Many factors, such as
fluctuating temperatures and changing time zones, can cause
wild swings in your blood sugar levels. If you check often,
you'll be better able to take corrective action as needed.
11. Finally, contact the
International Association for Medical Assistance to
Travelers at 417 Center Street, Lewiston, NY 14092. They can
provide you with a list of English speaking doctors in the
countries you'll be visiting.
As long as you take sensible
precautions to care for your diabetes, there's no reason why
it needs to stand in the way of a happy travel experience.
Bon voyage!
Bob Fleming suffers from Type 2
diabetes, but he does everything he can to suffer as little
as possible! Visit
http://www.thediabetesinfoplace.com for informative
articles and resources, including a list of diabetic
emergency phrases in eight languages. Sign up for
Bob's free weekly diabetic-friendly dessert recipe! |
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