Tips for the Diabetic Traveler

Managing your health when traveling can be tricky, especially when you have an illness that requires constant maintenance and regularly scheduled medicine or foods. Diabetics know this all too well. If you have diabetes you can still travel regularly, but keep these things in mind.
Carry a Doctor’s Note

When traveling, you’re going to find yourself on various planes, trains and other modes of transportation. Be sure to carry along a note from your doctor explaining your condition and required medication and treatment. You don’t want to get stuck in security because you’re carrying unapproved items without an explanation.

Check the Food

Eating out overseas can be an issue for diabetics since you it’s hard to be sure of what exactly is in the food you’re being served. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You can also avoid this problem by packing your meals ahead of time. This is especially helpful on planes, where they might not always be able to accommodate your dietary needs.

Keep a Schedule

Try to maintain your typical schedule when it comes to insulin injections if you need them. This is also true for people traveling with a pump. Make sure to adjust for time changes when needed and discuss this with your doctor before you go so the two of you can create a plan.

Tell Your Travel Companions

Diabetes can be a deeply personal issue for many people, but when you’re traveling it’s important to let others know about it in case something goes wrong. Always make sure to have someone around who knows what’s going on in an emergency.

Test Regularly

Between sitting on your butt for hours on end during plane and train trips or just walking around town for hours, traveling can wreak havoc on your glucose levels. Be sure to test yourself regularly and make adjustments as needed. Always test your glucose levels before and after meals in a foreign country, especially when a language barrier might cause you to mistake some ingredients.