Information about traveling with diabetics; wearing a medic alert bracelet and carrying prescriptions and current treatment regimen may save your life; whether you are traveling in the US or abroad.
Request in advance that your physician write on his prescription pad/letter head that you are under his/her continuos care for your condition; if the pharmacist in the locality you are visiting has any questions filling your prescriptions, your physician can easily be reached. Be sure to have all your prescriptions with you. Keep the Prescriptions like you would your passport/ID, credit cards/cash. Once you are settled into a hotel, you can then store the prescriptions in their safe. If one is not available, keep them near your person. They your lifesaver so treat them as so.
**Insulin can be stored at room temperature for up to 30 days! Also, FYI, if REGULAR insulin was placed in the freezer by mistake (not NPH, only REGULAR), when thawed, its effects are still good to use until you can replace it for the next dose. But NPH (any long acting ones), are not wise to use so replace them as soon as you can.
When you are traveling, it is wise to keep enough insulin and syringes, lancets, the test strips, individual alcohol pads for twice the expected time away from home. If 2 bottles (NPH/REG)insulin is enough for that time, have an extra set in a "first aid" type pouch and never keep them together. Keep what you use daily with you, and keep the other pouch in your hotel (in the hotel management's refrigerator or the fridge in your own room). That way, if the ones you're using daily are lost/stolen, you can immediately get your back up. If you are on oral pills to control your diabetes, keep a bottle near you at all times and have the other bottle stored with your suitcase or make up bag.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
For the sake of customs, make sure all prescriptions and a letterhead from your Dr.'s office have his/her name address and phone number in plain view to show officers and pharmacists if needed. DON'T GIVE UP THE PAPERS EVER, go with them to make copies if necessary. Just like your passport, they are important.
It is very wise to wear a MEDICAL ALERT BRACELET OR NECKLACE. When traveling internationally, you want the have the proper response initiated by their medical team, in case of emergency. If you cannot get a medical alert item for your person be sure to have your medical information easily accessible in your wallet or purse. Be sure to let your traveling companion(s) aware of your condition.
ALWAYS keep an extra pair of glasses. Disposable contacts are the best to travel with. Store a prescription for your eyes and put them with the rest of the prescriptions.
Just like when you are home be sure to keep glucose tablets, or paste on hand, candy in your pockets, or just some sugar packets from the hotel where you had a meal.
"Please do not implement anything you have learned with out first contacting your healthcare provider, nutritionist, medical team"
