All the precautions for traveling when you are diabetic

Being diabetic and going on a trip is entirely possible, as long as you keep a few practical tips in mind, including transporting your diabetes treatment and your self-monitoring and injection equipment. How to transport your insulin for a departure on vacation? What documents should I bring? What is the management of blood sugar during the stay? Here’s what you need to know. Diabetes is a condition that does not prevent you from travelling, provided you take precautions before and during the trip to deal with the unexpected. Starting with food, as you may have difficulty assessing the effect of new or exotic foods on your blood sugar.”Your time markers also change (jet lag, late for a transfer, waiting in line at a museum .)”, recalls the French Federation of Diabetics (FFD) (Source 1). “Finally, the climatic conditions can be very different from those to which you are accustomed (very cold or very hot)”.

Checklist: insurance, medical certificate, medication…

The first recommendation is to consult your doctor to inform him of his destination: he will help prepare for the trip, can indicate the medicines available without a medical prescription or discuss situations that require more frequent blood sugar monitoring.

Before departure, it is also necessary to carry out a checklist of essential administrative papers such as the prescription with the list of equipment carried (blood glucose meter, insulin pen, etc.) and authorizing the transport of insulin and diabetic cards.

If it is not necessary to translate the prescription into several languages, the French Federation of Diabetics recommends in the event of travel outside the EU “to nevertheless consult beforehand the airline or the diplomatic institutions (embassy, consulate ) of the country of arrival, in order to verify that special measures do not apply”.

As for the treatment itself, it is important to plan it according to the country of destination. In addition to the importance of calculating the quantity of material necessary for the duration of the stay, the association Aide aux Jeunes Diabétiques (Source 2) indicates that it is necessary “to provide 30 to 50% more material depending on the destination.” In fact, slipping more medicines and materials such as an insulin pen or spare batteries into the luggage makes it possible to deal with unforeseen events (in the event of theft, loss, etc.) which require a modification of the care diabetes (rhythm of meals, physical activity, etc.). If you go to a country where you have to get vaccinated, know that there are no contradictions to the various vaccinations in case of diabetes.