Travel requires extensive planning, which includes looking for inexpensive flights, learning about your trip, and making bookings. Preparing for a trip can occasionally seem overwhelming when managing diabetes is added to the mix.
What you must do in advance – depending on where you are going and how long you will be gone – should begin with the following:
- Get A Doctor’s Note
Ask your doctor to write a statement describing your health, including any medication requirements, and if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, for example. Make several photocopies of the note just in case you misplace one. Also, carry details of your term plans with you.
- Make An Early Call To The Airline
It’s a good idea to check the airline’s website before your first flight to see what is permitted on board and whether special requests can be accommodated.
In most cases, airlines won’t forbid you from bringing your diabetes supplies and medications with you on board, but they might have a particular process for handling and checking your medication. It’s crucial to mark everything clearly and to seal all medications in a separate plastic bag away from your other beverages.
- Bring Wholesome Food
Prepare portions of wholesome, non-refrigerated snacks to stay one step ahead of your appetite and away from junk food. But be mindful of the impact each food item has on your blood sugar. Good healthy snack choices include:
- Mixed nut and seed mixture
- Popcorn
- Grain-free crackers
How To Keep Healthy When Flying
No matter how well you plan, things occasionally don’t turn out exactly as you had hoped. Even if the worst-case scenario occurs, following these instructions should enable you to react swiftly and safely:
- Inform Them About Your Diabetes
Tell your travelling partners the truth about having diabetes. It’s especially crucial to have a medical ID of your term plan for diabetics with your condition listed if you’re travelling alone.
The people around you will be able to assist you quickly and effectively if you have a low blood sugar episode and lose awareness or control before you can treat it.
A card with more specific information, such as whether or not you use insulin and instructions on how to address a diabetes emergency with details of your term plan for diabetics, should also be kept in your wallet.
- Keep Diabetes Supplies In A Safe Place
First, check to see that you have all of your supplies and medications. To preserve the effectiveness of your medication and allow for unforeseen modifications to your trip itinerary, be sure to:
- Take an ice pack with you to freeze your insulin. Avoid using an ice pack since the cold will damage insulin.
- Take supplies with you that will last twice as long as your journey. Being overprepared is preferable to being underprepared.
- Ensure that all of your prescriptions bear the original pharmacy label.
- Maintain easy access to your diabetes supplies.
Make sure you have a life insurance policy that will take care of your medical costs in case you fall ill.
How To Look After Oneself More Than Usual While Travelling
You’ll probably need to make some careful alterations to prevent a diabetic emergency if you add in a tonne of new activities or significantly more downtime than normal.
- Calculate Your Calories And Carbs Before Eating
It’s a good idea to check the carb and calorie counts of some of the meals you anticipate eating on an online calorie-counting website.
- Frequently Monitor Your Blood Glucose Levels
You’ll likely need to monitor your blood glucose more frequently to stay on track if your meal times tend to change and you dine out more frequently than normal. To see how a meal impacts your body, try to do blood tests before and after the first one.
- Take Care Of Your Physique
Keep in mind that long days spent sightseeing might deplete your glucose reserves, while relaxing afternoons spent by the pool can result in greater blood glucose levels.
Prepare to test your blood sugar more frequently throughout the day if you are engaging in greater activity than normal. Although you may be adaptable to new activities, foods, and schedules, your diabetes is not. However, with enough preparation, such as having a life insurance policy, you’ll be able to keep discovering new places.
Carry with you details of your term plans when you travel, which will come in handy when needed.
