Travel requires extra care. Plan your trip carefully, and consider the physical impact of changes in everything from climate to diet.
As you plan, consider:
- What medicines and medical supplies you will need
- Access to medical care, should you need it
- Emergency insurance coverage
And if you are treated with pills that release insulin from the pancreas (insulin secretagogues) or insulin:
- The effect of time zone changes on your diurnal pattern: How this affects the timing and dose of your medications or insulin.
- Different foods: How this makes carbohydrate counting more challenging.
- Change in activity: Will it be more or less than normal? And how that will affect your Diabetes medication or insulin dose?
PLANNING A TRIP? KNOW HOW TRAVEL CAN AFFECT YOUR BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS AND HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR DIABETES.
Be sure to pack:
- Travel letter stating need for access to Diabetes supplies
- Prescription labels for all your medications, including insulin
- Medical identification for Diabetes and allergies
- “Backup” prescriptions
- List of all medications with instructions
- Blood glucose monitoring supplies:
- extra meter
- batteries
- test strips
- lancets
- lancing device
- extra continuous glucose monitoring sensors
- Ketone testing supplies
- Quick-acting carbs
- Prescription for antibiotics and anti-nausea medicine
- Emergency contact information: name, telephone numbers, email, etc.
And, if you are treated with insulin, don’t forget:
- Insulin injection supplies – syringes, insulins, insulin pens and needles, dosing instructions; for insulin pumps, see below
- Glucagon emergency kit
- Sharps container
Points about pumps
Special points about insulin pumps
- Consider taking an extra insulin pump, especially if traveling abroad. Contact pump company for a loaner pump.
- Pump supplies: Take extra supplies! Plan for double the time you expect to be away
- Reservoir cartridges
- Infusion sets
- Batteries or pump charger
- Skin site preparation supplies
- Insulin and syringes and dosing instructions in case the pumps breaks.
When passing through security checkpoints:
- Inform security screeners that you wear an insulin pump and are carrying Diabetes supplies.
- Understand that your insulin pump may trigger metal detectors. Do not disconnect your insulin pump for inspection.