Travelling Tips for Diabetic Patients

Safe pack for diabetic patient

No worries for diabetic Patients during their traveling only if they could follow the following tips carefully!

* What to do to stay safe ?
1.Take a supply of medication in hand luggage, particularly if they have type 1 diabetes.

2.Pack sugar or carbohydrate foods in hand luggage in case of delays or hypos (particularly with type 1 diabetes).

3.Take a doctor's letter or a summary printout showing their medical history and medication and explaining why they need to carry syringes in hand luggage.

4.Prepare well and discuss travel plans with their travel clinic or GP.

There is no reason why people with type 1 (insulin-dependent) or type 2 (non insulin-dependent) diabetes should not travel safely and to as varied a selection of destinations as anyone else. But remember that diabetes increases vulnerability to infections, so patients should look after themselves before and during their trip.
 


* What are the preparation must be done before travel ? 
 
1. Patients should have health insurance and carry some identification that shows they have diabetes such as a Medic-Alert bracelet.

2. Enough medication, testing strips, syringes and pens should be taken, in case suitcases get lost or the patient gets ill.

3. Patients should have all recommended immunisations and take all recommended precautions.

4. On adventurous trips, it is safer if people with type 1 diabetes travel with a companion who can recognise a hypo and knows how to help if they get ill.

* What are the risk condition one must watch out ?.

1. Diarrhoea and vomiting. Having diabetes means sugar control and metabolism are vulnerable. Patients should seek advice early and watch for deterioration

2. Any illness, particularly with type 1 diabetes, as it can raise insulin requirements. Patients should never stop their insulin and consider increasing it.

3. Travel sickness, as vomiting can lead to loss of diabetes control

4. Signs of hypos. If in doubt patients should take something sweet (they should carry cereal bars or biscuits). It is better for blood sugar to be too high for a few days than to have a hypo.

5. Their feet - hot sticky climates can lead to blisters or fungal infections. Hot sand and stones can burn. Foot infections can spread quickly in people with diabetes and cause serious infections throughout the body.

6. Dry, cracking skin should be kept moist.

7. Sunburn - patients should look after their skin, as a burn can stress the body and destabilise diabetes.

8. Be careful to avoid dehydration if it is hot – a particular danger with diabetes

* What to do during Travel ?

1. Patients should take extra food with them in case of delays.

2. Airlines will usually have diabetic meals but patients should not rely on this, particularly if they have type 1 diabetes.

3. Insulin can be stored at normal room temperature, but the warmer it gets the faster it goes off. Patients should keep their insulin in a cool, dark place, wrapped in wet flannels. Heat can reduce the effectiveness of insulin so they should make sure they have plenty of supplies.

4. If flying west, patients should stretch the gap between doses by 2 or 3 hours twice daily, but also consider extra monitoring. If flying east, they should reduce the time between doses by 2 to 3 hours each time but watch for hypo. It may also be sensible to decrease doses of insulin by 6 units. The key is careful monitoring.

5. Make sure they carry a doctor's letter explaining the necessity of carrying syringes in hand luggage.

6. If crossing different time zones, patients should seek advice from their diabetes doctor well before the departure date for instructions on changes to medical routines.

7. Make sure they carry a doctor's letter explaining the necessity of carrying syringes in hand luggage and outlining their diabetes plan.

Have a safe journey !