Diabetes is a serious condition that can be deadly if not managed properly. It’s important to keep your blood sugar levels under control at all times, but that can be challenging when you travel. Here are some tips on how to make sure you stay safe and healthy while traveling with diabetes:
Pack food, water, and snacks
- Pack food in your carry-on bag.
- Bring a water bottle and snacks.
- Pack a snack that is high in protein and low in sugar.
- Keep your food ready to eat on the go, so you’re not tempted to buy something from the vending machine at every stop or look for something else when hunger strikes (which happens more often than you’d think). This way, even if you have to wait for a bit before getting off the bus/train/plane again, at least there will be some tasty treats waiting for you!
Know where to go for help
- Ask the hotel or hostel staff for help.
- Ask the pharmacist for help.
- Call your doctor or diabetes educator if you have a problem while traveling, even if it’s just to let them know that you’re safe and well cared for.
Bring copies of all your prescriptions
It’s important to have copies of your prescription medications with you when traveling. If you forget them, it could be difficult or even impossible to find a pharmacy in another country that stocks the same drug and dosage.
You can get a copy of your prescription from most pharmacies or from your doctor’s office. If there isn’t one nearby, call ahead and ask for one when you arrive at the airport or train station; some airports have free wireless internet so this might be an option for getting access to the Internet while waiting for boarding time (or just checking out information about where exactly we are traveling).).
If possible, try not to leave any pills unopened in your luggage since this could cause problems if they’re accidentally broken open during transit through Customs inspection procedures—which happens sometimes!
Pack more medications than you think you’ll need
It’s always a good idea to bring extra supplies with you when traveling, and one of the most important ones is your diabetes supplies—especially if they are different from what you normally use at home. You may be able to buy these in advance of your trip, but if not, it’s better safe than sorry: Bring an extra supply just in case something happens along the way that requires an immediate change in your medication regimen (for example cold weather or dehydration). It’s also helpful if this extra supply can be kept separate from your original supply so it doesn’t get mixed up with everything else in your bag; this keeps things organized and makes finding what we need much easier when we’re out on our travels!
Keep medications with you at all times
Keeping your medications with you at all times is important for two reasons. First, it ensures that you don’t forget to take them, which can lead to serious health problems and even death. Second, if an emergency occurs while traveling (such as a car accident or injury), having your medication on hand can make a difference in whether or not that situation becomes life-threatening.
It’s also important to keep track of what medicines are in your bag so that if something happens while traveling—whether it’s theft or loss—you’ll know exactly where everything is located and how much medication is left before making any decisions about what needs replacing or purchasing new supplies later on down the line.
When flying, bring insulin in your carry-on bag
If you are flying, it’s important to bring insulin in your carry-on bag. Airlines will not allow syringes or needles aboard the plane.
Insulin should be kept in a separate container from other medications you may be taking. This is because insulin can react with certain drugs like aspirin and antihistamines. This can cause dangerous side effects such as low blood sugar levels or even death if taken with these medications.
If possible, make sure your child is aware of the presence of insulin so they don’t accidentally take too much while traveling with you.
Have a backup meter, strips, and other supplies
- Consider bringing extra blood glucose test strips with you, as well as insulin and syringes. If you don’t have these on hand when needed, it’s possible to get into trouble fast.
- Make sure that your meter has batteries in it if it doesn’t because this could cause problems when traveling with diabetes (e.g., not having enough time for reading). Also, make sure that the lancets are sharpened—you don’t want blisters!
Factor in time zone changes when taking medications
When traveling, it’s important to factor in time zone changes. If you are taking medications at home and then traveling across multiple time zones, it may be necessary to adjust the timing of when you take your medication.
In some cases, there may be a need for an adjustment in dosage or the use of another type of insulin or insulin analogs. It’s important that patients do not change their regimen without first consulting their doctor!
Get the recommended amount of sleep
Sleep is a crucial part of staying healthy. If you are traveling through multiple time zones, it can be hard to know when to take your medication or eat breakfast. Here’s how to deal:
- Take medicines on the same schedule every day. This means that unless there’s an emergency (like if you have an accident), stick with the same times for taking insulin and eating as much as possible — even if that means eating meals earlier in one location than another.
- Plan ahead by planning at least five days ahead of time which medications are going where and for how long they’ll be needed during your trip (if possible). There isn’t always enough time for this plan at home so it’s important not only when traveling but also during any unexpected delays; otherwise, things may get very confusing quickly.
Conclusion
Traveling with diabetes can be difficult, but with a bit of preparation and planning, it doesn’t have to be. By keeping track of your medications and supplies, packing snacks that are easy to eat while in transit, and knowing where to go for help if something goes wrong, you can make sure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible.
