Travel and Diabetes: What Precautions to Take?

It isn't always easy to travel far from home when you have diabetes. What precautions should you take if you're diabetic?

A few precautions for a worry-free trip

Before you leave

• Talk about your holiday plans and your choice of destination with your GP and/or your diabetes specialist. They'll be able to advise you on the medical feasibility of the trip based on your medical history (stabilised or balanced diabetes) and your treatment.
• Find out about the local eating habits of the country you're visiting: what types of meals are served there, are they varied and is there enough choice, and what are the meal times? This information is important for adjusting your insulin injection schedule.
• Bring all the equipment you need for your injections, a travel first-aid kit and a spare insulin prescription bearing the medical (scientific) name. Bring a sufficient supply and check whether the insulin you use is available in your destination country.
• If you're flying, it's recommended to bring a personalised medical certificate (security declaration) filled in by your doctor (preferably in English). Have it list the equipment you use to measure your blood sugar level (insulin pen, glucometer, insulin, syringe, needles, pump, etc.) and make a photocopy that you can easily retrieve (e.g. in your personal email). Keep the medical equipment in its original packaging in your hand luggage. If you're travelling outside Europe, find out in advance about the rules for importing medication. See our article "Travelling with medication" on this topic.
• If you're travelling to a country in a different time zone, it's useful to discuss flight times and insulin administration times in advance with your diabetes care advisor or your doctor in order to plan your treatment schedule.
• Make sure you have good travel assistance. Redion's annual travel insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions provided they have been stable for at least 2 months before departure.

On the ground

• If you're travelling by car, remember to bring some snacks and drinks to have along the way. Allow enough time for the round trip so you can take a few breaks now and then and travel in a relaxed way.
• Never store insulin in direct sunlight or in your car's glove compartment, as temperatures there can rise quickly if your vehicle is parked in the sun.
• Tell your travel companions that you're diabetic. It will be easier for them to act accordingly if something happens to you.
• A holiday can be very relaxing or very active: changes to your diet and physical habits can affect your blood sugar level. It's therefore advisable to check it regularly. The same applies if you suffer from cardiovascular complications alongside diabetes.
• Winter sports: insulin becomes permanently inactive once its temperature drops below 0°C. If you're going to do winter sports or travelling somewhere with very low temperatures, it's advisable to keep the insulin pen you carry with you in an insulated bag designed for that purpose.

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