What is Summer without a vacation or a road trip of sorts… maybe some time at the beach, or maybe a cabin in the woods or even sightseeing in the city…  Whatever your summer plans are, if you are heading away from home and you have been diagnosed with diabetes, or pre-diabetes, there are some considerations you need to take to best manage your health.

A little planning is all that takes… John Hopkins Medicine recommends that a person with Diabetes should visit their healthcare provider ahead of the vacation time, to ensure that their diabetes is well managed.  It is also helpful to request documentation to keep with you when you travel about how your diabetes is treated ( for instance: pills, insulin shots), what medicines and equipment are needed to manage your diabetes (for instance: insulin, syringes, and other medicines or devices to check your blood sugar) and whether you have any allergies to foods or medicine. This type of easily accessible information can help communicate your needs to healthcare providers where you are, if an emergency occurs.

Now for packing for your trip… 

It would seem obvious that you need to pack enough medicine, your blood sugar monitoring device and supplies, and other needed medical equipment, but it might also be proactive to bring additional medicine and supplies with you, in addition to bringing a prescription with you for those medicines and supplies while away, in case your trip plans change or your medicines and supplies are lost.  If traveling abroad, John Hopkins Medicine recommends contacting the International Diabetes Federation groups at www.idf.org for more information as prescription laws can be different in different countries. You may also want to get a list of English-speaking healthcare providers in the countries you’re traveling to before you leave. Contact the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers at www.iamat.org for more information. 

Speaking of traveling to other countries, it might also be helpful for you and your traveling companions to learn how to say “I have diabetes” or “he/she has diabetes” in the native language of that country, in case of emergency situations.  Also wearing a Medical ID can alert healthcare providers of any of your healthcare information.

Are you planning to fly somewhere? 

There are some additional considerations to keep in mind:

• At least 72 hours ahead of departure, if your flight has a meal included, request a low sugar, low fat and low cholesterol meal.
• If wearing an insulin pump or a glucose monitoring device, be sure to let airport security know prior to going through security. You should be eligible for a more private security screen. You shouldn’t need to disconnect your system.
• Pack some low sugar snacks in your personal carry-on item, or a snack that includes a protein/fat and a carbohydrate, such as a peanut butter cheese cracker sandwich pack. 
• If prone to low blood sugars, ensure you have a sugary snack such as hard candy, or purchase an orange juice at a store after passing through security in the airport.  This will be especially important if your plane is delayed through a meal time, or your meal is delayed on the plane due to turbulence.
• Plan ahead with your healthcare provider if you have a schedule that you follow for injectable insulin. Changing time zones can be confusing in determining a new schedule, and jet lag can impact the way you are feeling as well.  Again, being proactive in your planning can prevent some of the complications that can occur related to managing your blood sugars.

Keep your eye on our social media in August for more information and travel tips related to managing your diabetes while on-the-go this summer.

For more information, read this article from John Hopkins Medicine