Diabetes and Travel
(BeWellBuzz) Planning to go for a summer break but scared of your diabetes problem? Well, don’t let your diabetes come in your way. If you just meticulously plan your travel in advance, you can also enjoy your holidays like everyone else.
Diabetic – You Are Not The Only One!
Today, diabetes is a very common problem, spreading like an epidemic capturing the lives of 7 million individuals every year. Diabetes has taken the world by storm irrespective of age, gender or race with teenagers being the most common victims. According to World Health Organization, over 300 million people worldwide are estimated to suffer from some or the other type of diabetes by 2030. The number is estimated to be well over 30 million in just United States.
Traveling With Diabetes
While travelling, diabetes patients should keep in mind the three important factors that can keep your diabetes in check:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Medication
Diabetes patients are often advised to undergo regular tests to keep diabetes in check. Although there’s no single way to cure this disease, here are a few treatment options that may plan an important role in controlling diabetes.
- Monitoring blood pressure
- Controlling blood cholesterol
- Self testing blood glucose levels regularly
- Staying knowledgeable about diabetes
- Regularly exercising and foot care
- Proper meal planning and weight control
- Timely intake of medication or insulin use
Diabetic Care for Travelers
In order to ensure a safe travel, it is advised that diabetic patients take some precautions before and during the trip.
Before the trip:
- Visit your physician: If you are planning to travel, you must see your doctor for a check-up 4 to 6 weeks ahead. Ask your doctor to write a letter that explains your problem, medication, supplies, and allergies, if any.
- Call the airline for special arrangements: Most airlines provide special meals for diabetes condition. Inform your airline in advance to ensure that your attendants understand your condition.
- Take the required vaccination: In case, you are travelling to a country where a vaccination may be needed, try to get it at least 1-2 weeks before your travel. This will give you sufficient time to monitor any complications with your diabetes medications.
- Carry enough medication supply for the trip: It is advisable to discuss with your doctor, any necessary adjustments to the dosage or timing of your medication, especially when crossing different time zones.
- Keep emergency food supply: Having small quantities of energy snacks like crackers, juice box, candy, and other items are recommended for diabetes patients.
- Pack your Diabetes Monitor: You must double check your insulin supplies and spare blood test strips, so they are enough to last your holiday.
- Add your foot care products: It will be good if you can carry a bag of foot care products along with a first-aid cream and bandages. Wear only comfortable pair of shoes for walking.
During the trip:
- Keep all your medical supplies with you: During transit, it is advisable to carry all your medical supplies in your carry bag as you really don’t want to lose this stuff when you’re in transit.
- Drink water: Diabetes patients should drink plenty of water throughout the transit and avoid drinking too much alcohol.
- Stretch your body during long flights: If you are stopping during a transit, it will help to use the airport waiting time to walk around and stretch regularly.
- Have a travel companion: It is advisable not to travel along and tell at least one person travelling with you about your diabetes problem so that in case of emergency, they can take action.
- Watch what you eat: It is recommended to drink only bottled water and consume lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. Diabetes patients should have pasteurized dairy products and avoid eating food from street vendors.
- Caution when using your room’s refrigerator: It is best to keep your insulin at room temperature as room refrigerators may not be properly maintained and may have temperature fluctuations.
- Take appropriate foot care: You must carry your most comfortable shoes and check your feet often. Tend quickly to any cuts or sores that develop and take frequent breaks throughout your day to rest your feet.
- Test your blood sugar regularly: Time difference and other changes in the daily schedule can have drastic effects on your blood sugar. Make sure you test it often and as recommended by your doctor.
- Keep your food supply handy: Always keep your snack bag handy since you never know where you may be when your blood sugar is too low or too high.
Traveling with diabetes can be risky but if you take precautions, you should do just fine. So, next time you leave your house, make sure you have done all the necessary homework to keep worry-free throughout your holiday.
If you are tired of constantly measuring your blood sugar and want to get rid of diabetes naturally, check out the video below. It will show you how to reverse Type 2 diabetes and return to a normal, healthy, DRUG-FREE life.
References:
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/33/Supplement_1/S3.full
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/diabetes-test-strips.html
http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/21/2/82.full
http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/care/tips_travel_1.html
