Traveling is a big part of many people’s lives, something many take for granted without a second thought. But for those with Diabetes there is a bit more thought and planning involved.

Here are some common and not-so-common tips that just might help you next time you’re trotting the globe.

1. When traveling for hours bring a timer or stop watch – If you’re using insulin, chances are you’re on a time based schedule. If you end up flying coast-to-coast or international then you end up skipping many time zones and can easily lose track of time. An easy mistake to make is taking your next dosage once you’re off the flight in accordance to the local time. Depending on where you came from, there could be several hours too late or too early. One way to combat this is to bring a timer and measure exactly how long it has been since your last injection. You can do this to follow you’re normal time-based injection schedule until you’ve eased a bit more into the time zone you’re in If you’re traveling more than 2-3 time zone be sure to consult with your doctor for a good plan of action regarding meal and insulin schedules.
2. Look into travel insurance – Especially when staying on longer trips and even after extensive packing there is still a chance for things to go wrong. What happens when your luggage with your 5 weeks worth of medication gets lost at the airport? Contact your insurance company and see what they can cover in case you aren’t already covered. It also might not hurt to inquire about international travel insurance if you plan on going abroad.
3. Tell those you’re with – Especially when traveling alone, make sure to tell at least one person that you have diabetes. A good idea is to tell an airplane attendant, a bus driver, the person sitting next to you on the 9 hour flight. Also make sure you able to be identified as a diabetic quickly and easily. The Diabetic alert bracelets and wallet cards are ideal for this.
4. Invest in quality travel equipment – No I don’t mean a brand new set of Gucci luggage. When traveling, one of the most important things is to keep the potency of your medication. Proper storage is very important as insulin retains its potency for up to 30 days in room temperature. But it’s just not worth taking chances. Think about investing in some high quality cases that are easy to travel with yet also have refrigerating properties to keep things like insulin cold. At the very least something to keep it cool while in transit.
5. Checkups, Premeditation and Emergency Equipment – In case you’re going on a rather long trip, it is a good idea to get checked out a few weeks before going by your doctor. Consult with them and explain the length and extent of the trip. You could even talk about the cultural and culinary differences between your home and where you’re going and how it might affect your blood sugar. Also make sure you’ve brought more medical supplies than you think you’ll need. This includes extra insulin/pills, syringes, fast acting glucose tables, fast acting insulin for emergency highs etc.
6. Test Glucose Frequently – I know there are plenty of you out there testing 8, 12, 16+ times a day, so for to you I give a thumbs up :-). But for others I would suggest, especially if traveling more than 3 times zones to test glucose levels more frequently. We all get in the habit of keeping a mental note of what effects certain foods have on our blood sugars (at least I do). But being in a different time zone and eating different foods can have a much greater effect on your blood sugar than you think. For example, I fly between Europe and the West cost of the U.S. regularly and notice drastic changes once I reach each side. My blood sugars get extremely low even when eating the same foods. It’s almost as if my insulin starts working 50% more within my body for the next few days after arrival and I have to make constant adjustments. This is something that would be good to consider.
7. Don’t stay stagnant for too long – In the case that you’re in transit for a long time (or even just a few hours), it is important to keep your blood and circulation going. Don’t sit on that rear-end for too long, every change you get try and take a break to stretch and shake things up a bit. If you’re on an airplane this isn’t so uncommon as you’ll see people walking up and down the isle, join them! A great place to do in-place stretching is usually by the restrooms and the main cabin door exit. For long car trips there is no excuse like stopping for gas or small snack breaks.
8. Keep a similar diet – It may be quite tempting, but try not to stray of the beaten path regarding your diet wherever you go. An intense switch in completely different foods could be a sort of shock to your body and blood sugar. Be sure to take new foods with moderation and see how they affect you and your blood sugar in your new location.
9. Watch the Alcohol – Ah yes, temptation again. You may feel like “letting loose” with a few too many martini’s at the coconut bar on your island get away but try to resist. People with diabetes can enjoy alcohol just like everyone else but the key is moderation (Just like everyone else ). Some tips involve being selective about what you drink, the sugars and calories in those mixers add up real quick. Also eat something before drinking, drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea whether you’re diabetic or not. I’m sure (hopefully) you’re “celebrating” with other people and just not getting drunk by yourself, if so make sure they know your situation in case of emergency and even to support you in not over doing it.
10. Bottled Water, Drink it! – Hydration is very important, but just as important is the quality of your hydration source. Especially if you’re in a foreign country where the water quality is debatable then pick up a few bottles of drinking water. Even in locations within the U.S. the water quality is far from optimal. Better safe than sorry.

With a bit of common sense and forward thinking you will be well on your way to a safe and complication free traveling experience.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 at 5:24 am and is filed under Diabetes Medication, Diabetes Tips, Diabetic Health, Food, Glucose Management, SugarStats Status.
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