Planning ahead when you travel reduces stress. This is particularly important for a diabetic. These 7 diabetes travel tips are simple to implement and crucial to your diabetic management. They are particularly important if you are traveling abroad.
1) Have a pre-travel check-up. Make sure your A1C blood sugar levels; your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels are OK. Get the appropriate shots for any country you plan to visit.
2) Wear a diabetes medical ID. Ideally it should be in the language spoken in the country you're visiting. Not everyone speaks your language and you don't want medical problems through misunderstandings.
3) Keep your medication and glucose snacks in your hand-luggage. Check-in baggage does, unfortunately, go astray. Don't risk your diabetes medication by packing it in your main luggage.
4) Keep your medication in its original box, complete with pharmacy labels. It will prevent misunderstandings about why you are carrying drugs and, if you are on insulin, syringes.
5) Have an emergency supply of snacks, glucose tablets or fruit juice in case your blood sugar drops and you start to experience a hypoglycemic state. Keep these, and your medication, by you - not in the overhead locker.
6) Be aware of time zone changes, especially when altering your watch. Remember when you travel east your day becomes shorter; if you travel west your day
becomes longer. You may need to alter the timings of your medication.
7) Don't be shy about telling the travel attendant you are a diabetic. They need to know.
If your blood sugar levels drop you may act irrationally, which can sometimes be mistaken for drunkenness.
Your travel attendant needs to know that your actions are due to your diabetes - not because of drinking - and you need a glucose boost. This is even more important if you are traveling alone.
Traveling need not be traumatic. A sensible attitude and a bit of pre-travel planning can make things go far more smoothly.
