For most people, planning a trip requires careful consideration of things such as destination, wardrobe selections, time schedules, transportation, attractions & activities, meal considerations and budget constraints. Diabetics face these and many more challenges when the time comes to make vacation arrangements. Very careful preparation, well in advance of the trip, must be made when traveling outside of the home territory – and there are sometimes obstacles that can disrupt even the best of plans.
If you’re a potential traveler with diabetes, you should consult with your physician and/or diabetes team members well in advance of your trip – about six to eight weeks is a good timeframe – to go over the details of the trip and receive a thorough check-up. Be sure to bring a journal with you, so that you can note any special instructions or concerns that your healthcare professionals may offer. This is a good time, too, to discuss other types of medications and procedures with your doctor, such as what steps to take in the event of airsickness or other common travel-related illnesses. Diabetics may not be able to take the usual OTC medications with their diabetic prescriptions. Having met with your physician, you may then schedule any inoculations that may be necessary for the trip, which should be done about a month in advance of the time that you plan to travel. If there are going to be complications, this will give the doctors adequate time to address them.
It’s a good idea to purchase a Medic Alert tag - either in the form of a bracelet or necklace - if you haven’t already done so. This will alert emergency medical personnel of your condition if you become very ill or unconscious while away from home. You might consider a back-up set, in the event that one is lost during your travels.
A detailed list of all medications and supplies should be on hand, as well, for a number of reasons. You’ll need a copy of this documentation to be on your person should medical treatment become necessary while you’re away, and a copy will need to be filed with the travel agent so that adequate arrangements can be made on your behalf. Since problems sometimes arise when transporting syringes (for those who are insulin dependent) from one country to another, this documentation will serve to prove that there is a legitimate medical reason to have them in your possession. A list of your medical team’s phone numbers should also be included in the paperwork, in the event of an emergency.
In addition to the documents outlining your medications and necessary tools, paperwork that outlines a meal plan should be included in the packet. Depending upon the regional cooking staples of the area that you’re visiting, carbohydrates could become a problem. One of the reasons that you’ll need to work closely with your diabetes team members well in advance of your departure is so that the team’s nutritionist can map out a reasonable meal plan with you, in accordance with the types of food that you’ll likely be exposed to when you’ve reached your destination.
A second copy of all paperwork relating to your medical supplies and needs should be filed with your travel agent, as noted earlier. This serves a variety of purposes: there will be definitive documentation included in your file, should your medical condition ever become an issue; and the agent will need to make arrangements with the airline (or cruise line) well in advance of your departure, in order to ensure that your dietary needs will be met, as well as to ensure that properly trained medical personnel will be on hand in case of a medical emergency. He or she can also speak with carrier personnel (for those who will be traveling by air or sea) to go over any special needs and considerations that you may have.
You’ll need to be sure that you’re familiar with any insurance policies that you have which might apply to medical treatment or hospitalization that may become necessary during your time away. If there are any questions regarding specific types of coverage or exclusions, make time to meet with your insurance agent or speak with a knowledgeable representative on the phone prior to your departure date. There are sometimes problems with insurance authorizations and coverage agreements when medical attention is required out of your country of origin.
During the process of packing, be sure to include duplicates of all medications and diabetic tools that you may need. These should be packed in two separate pieces of baggage, in the event that luggage is lost at some point during your trip. You may find that you’ll need to pack one set in a piece of standard carry-on luggage and the other in a purse or other type of container that can be kept at hand, depending – of course – upon your gender. This is especially necessary for those who are insulin dependent, since this particular medication is sensitive to extreme temperatures. In such a case, you shouldn’t include the medication in a piece of luggage that will be stored in the back of the plane, which is not pressurized. Such conditions can cause the insulin to be compromised by diminishing its potency. In addition to the daily and emergency medical supplies, you should also pack sunscreen. Sunburn may cause complications for diabetics.
When traveling – especially for those who are opting for air travel – you may pass through an area that’s designed for x-raying luggage. Since insulin can also be negatively impacted by x-rays, arrangements will need to be made for a hand inspection of any luggage containing your medication. Your travel agent should be able to assist you in this effort, in order to reduce the inconvenience of delays and so forth upon your arrival at the airport or other facility where x-rays may be required. Certainly, when you reach your destination, you should very carefully examine your insulin, to be certain that its integrity is still intact. If it looks unusual in any way, do not use it and contact your doctor immediately for further instructions.
For those traveling by car, be sure to keep your emergency supplies close at hand, in case you feel the need to pull over and take glucose tablets, should your blood sugar levels begin to plummet. Don’t wait until the symptoms are extreme before pulling over – sugar levels can sometimes drop very quickly and, if you’re traveling alone, there will be no-one on hand to perform emergency medical procedures if the situation should arise. Another thing to keep in mind is the need to check your blood levels on a regular basis – every four hours is the usual timeframe. You’ll need to ensure that you keep to a regular meal and snack schedule, and not attempt to drive for more than six hours between meals (only four hours at a time if snacks are not taken).
The temptation to overeat and not stick to an exercise regimen is common among vacationers. For diabetics, it’s critical that you stick to as normal a routine as possible, in order to avoid fluctuating or unstable blood sugar levels. Follow the nutritionist’s meal plan as closely as possible and be sure to include some form of exercise in your daily regimen. If you have the choice of taking a short walking tour or riding the route, consider walking through the sightseeing arena if your approach to daily exercise has been, otherwise, minimal.
While most diabetics can enjoy their travels without any undue inconvenience, it’s best to be fully prepared, in the event of an emergency or other unusual circumstances. If you have any questions regarding your specific plan of action or other questions or concerns related to diabetes, consult with your physician prior to traveling.
