TRAVELLING
DIABETES
WITH
SHORT TRIPS
LONG TRIPS
TIPS FOR TRAVELLING OVERSEAS
A DIABETIC TRAVELLER'S CHECK LIST
Take all your normal kit and medications with you.
Remember to take your long-acting insulin with you as
well (if you use it) if you don't carry it with you everyday.
For the traveling diabetic, overnight stays and short trips
should not cause any real anxieties.
Two weeks' before you go check your supplies
Do you have enough blood test strips, insulin and hypo
treatments to last you? Order any extras you may need
from your GP.
Documents
Diabetics on insulin should carry a note with them from
their doctor saying that they have diabetes and are on
medication. A pump user may need an additional letter
from their hospital or clinic saying they have diabetes
and are on an insulin pump.
Longer trips and overseas travel need a bit more
forethought and planning.
Keep all your diabetes equipment with you
The last thing you need is to lose it. If you are travelling
with someone else, ask them to carry a small bag of
basic kit in case you loose yours.
Clearing security
Keep all your diabetes kit and medication in one place
that you can easily access and show to anyone who may
ask to see it as you go through security.
KEEPING INSULIN COOL
Always keep insulin away
from exposure to extremes of
temperature. It is not
necessary to keep insulin cool
if you are just taking a flight.
Each bottle or box of insulin
cartridges has an information
sheet about how to look after
the medication.
Get the address of the
British Consulate in the
country you are visiting
and have that handy in
case you need advice
from people who speak
your language and
know the local culture.
If you are traveling
with people whom
you do not know well,
tell them you have
diabetes in case you
are taken ill, so they
can help you.
To keep all your diabetes kit safe and in one place, see the Desang
range of kitbags on www.desang.net
For regular articles on travel and food, visit www.desang-magazine.co.uk
Keep a hypo
treatment handy at
all times - new
cultures and new
foods may lead to a
few highs and lows
so be prepared. Keep
testing to stay safe
and enjoy yourself!
Hypo treatments
If you carry liquid hypo treatments (drinks gels and
syrups) you need to declare them when passing through
security so allow for putting them in to a clear plastic
bag as part of your hand luggage. Or carry dry
alternatives if possible when travelling (e.g.Glucotabs).
Insulin cannot go in the cargo hold of an airplane
(it may freeze which can deactivate it.)
If it's in use the insulin
should be fine at room
temperature for a few days
so long as it does not get
too hot or too cold.
21 C
When it's not in use
(unopened and not in an
insulin pen or pump), it
should be stored in a fridge.
For insulin injectors
For insulin pump users
Lancing
device
Blood test
meter & strips
For CGM Users
Spare
sensors
Plasters or
similar for
adhesion
CGM
inserter
Insulin
cartridges
Needles
Hypo
treatment
Insulin pens
(long-acting and
short-acting)
Reservoirs Infusion
sets
Infusion
set inserter
Bottles of
insulin
Blood test
meter & strips
Batteries
for pump
Lancing
device
Blood test
sensors
Charger
(if required)
Skin Tac (or similar) possibly Opsite Flexifit (or similar)
for extra adhesion
Pump wear (pump belt, pump tee, waterproof pouch, etc, for
all your holiday clothing needs)
REMEMBER
You may want to take spare items
to take on trips, such as:
A spare blood test machine; spare
CGM sensors (and sensor charger and
inserter if required); spare insulin &
insulin pen; spare batteries; spare
needles; spare hypo treatment; spare
fooinfo@desang.netiar with.
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Send an email saying 'sign me up' to info@desang.net
www.desang-magazine.co.uk
TRAVELLERS CHECKLIST - click the pic to download.
THE
PAT-DOWN
PROTOCOL
It's not inevitable, but odds-on
you're going to get searched.
Afterall, you're probably carrying
sharps, batteries, might be
wearing diabetes tech up to
and including a transmitter. Be
upfront, smile, say thanks. We all
want to travel safely. Pre-prepare
with liquids, including insulin,
in a clear plastic bag. Take solid
hypo treatments and plenty of
spare kit. Have a great flight.