This year, a COVID-19 vaccine has made traveling and a sense of normalcy possible after a crazy year of shutdowns, virus transmission, and anxiety. However, virus or not, traveling with Type 1 Diabetes can be stressful, especially if you're traveling far away from home! So, here are a few tips that I've found have helped not only ensure you are prepared for high or low blood sugar but also help ensure peace of mind!
Create an itinerary.
Identify pharmacies and hospitals in close proximity to your destination.
Make a packing list—and check it twice before leaving!
Tell your friends and family where you’re going and who you’re traveling with.
Travel with people you trust.
Step 1: Create an Itinerary
The first step to a successful vacation is creating a solid itinerary! While nomadic backpacking trips and going with the flow might work well for some, this type of traveling method isn't recommended for people living with Type 1 Diabetes. Since an emergency or a scare could happen at any moment, it's important for us to know where we are at all times!
A successful itinerary means having flight information, hotel numbers and booking info, methods of travel, and planned stops on a single document. This itinerary can be created in any way you'd like! I typically use Illustrator so I can easily design my document, but there are also easy templates for people to use in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and even Canva.com!
The next step once you have your template created: identify pharmacies and hospitals close to your destinations! Keep reading to learn more.
Step 2: Identify pharmacies and hospitals in close proximity to your destination
For T1Ds, it's important to remember that even with the most careful planning, an emergent situation could arise at any time. If this happens, it will be important to know beforehand where to go. Situations could include losing your blood glucose meter or supplies, dropping your insulin (yikes!), or even a low that you can't bring up with snacks. If this happens, you will thank yourself and your pre-planning for listing where the closest pharmacy and care facility is. Even better—find one that accepts your insurance if possible!
To start, call your insurance and speak with a member specialist. Generally, a representative can assist you with identifying places that are in-network in any given zip code (within the U.S).
Next, write down the name of the pharmacy or clinic in English and the native language of the location that you're traveling to.
Lastly, ensure this information is stored on your itinerary!
Step 3: Make a packing list—and check it twice before leaving!
If you skip all the other steps on this list, the one that I highly recommend spending time on: make a packing list!
The key items that should be on all T1Ds list are the following:
extra insulin (vial, pen, etc.)
ice pack to keep insulin cold
meter
test strips
lancing device (finger poker)
lancets
needles or pen needles
insurance card(s)
new, unopened glucose tablets (important for air travel if purchased before security checkpoint)
glucagon
Separate bag to carry diabetes supplies in (important for air travel)
If you use a pump, CGM, or other devices, be sure to pack all supplies needed for the length of your vacation x 2. We know CGM sensors can fail, pump sites can become occluded or come off, and our pumps need to be charged—so be sure to add all your supplies to the list! For example:
pump sites
extra cartridges
cartridge needles
CGM sensors
CGM transmitter
charging cable and applicable power adapter (especially important if traveling abroad)
This list isn't inclusive of all items each individual might need, so be sure to tailor it to fit your needs! A good list can be used repeatedly, so ensure it's comprehensive and adjust as needed for each vacation you take.
Step 4: Tell your friends and family where you're going and who you're traveling with
As adults, sometimes we forget to check in with the ones who care about us most before making decisions, like traveling—be sure to check in with your family, friends, and other loved ones so they know where you're going and who you're going with, in cases of emergency. Even better? Send them a copy of your itinerary!
Step 5: Travel with people you trust
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but there would be nothing worse than traveling with people who don't understand or care much about your health and well-being. Sometimes, diabetes can be an invisible illness, and other people, or ourselves, can hold us to ableist standards. However, it's important to remember that we are people with a chronic condition that requires constant care. So, ensure that you are traveling with people who are understanding, caring, and supportive. You might need to call a trip or a planned stop short to care for your T1D. If this happens, you'll want supportive friends by your side!
What travel plans do you have coming up, or what are your dream travel destinations that you're hoping to visit within the next ten years? Comment them below! For more travel tips, check out this Beyond Type 1 post!
Comments