TRAVELING WITH DIABETES
A little planning goes a long way โ so the only surprises are the good ones.
Traveling with diabetes doesn’t have to be stressful. A bit of prep means you can enjoy where you are without diabetes running the itinerary.
Before You Go
A few things to sort before you head off.
Talk to your medical team about your travel plans, including where you’re going and for how long. They can guide you on what to prepare and which extra supplies and medications to bring.
๐ Get a letter from your doctor
Helps at airport security and pharmacies abroad.
๐ Carry prescriptions for all medications
Insulin, glucagon, oral medication, finger prick supplies, insulin pump and CGM supplies.
๐ Know how to manage issues
Low blood sugar/hypoglycemia and sick day management.
๐ Keep your doctor’s contact details with you
Yours and your wider medical team’s.
๐ Plan for time zones
Think through insulin injections across changing time zones.
๐ก๏ธ Check your insurance
See if your health insurance covers trips, or get extra travel insurance.
Diabetes Travel Kit
Pack more than you think you’ll need โ and keep the essentials in your carry-on.
๐ What to pack
Pack what fits your routine โ not every item below applies to everyone.
- Extra insulin (more than enough for the trip)
- A cool pack and power bank for your cooling system
- Infusion sets
- CGM, extra sensors, transmitters, batteries/chargers
- Needles and sharps container
- Glucose and ketone test strips
- Blood glucose meter
- Healthy snacks (biscuits, crackers, dried fruit)
- Hypo kit (glucose tablets, jellybeans, gel, long-lasting carbs, and glucagon injection set)
While Traveling
Small habits to keep things steady on the road.
๐ At security
Keep your insulin pump or CGM on during security checks. Tell security staff your devices can’t go through x-rays.
๐ง Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of water to help keep blood sugar in range.
๐ถ Plan some movement
A bit of physical activity helps keep blood sugar stable.
๐ฉธ Test more often
Time zones, new foods, and routine changes affect levels.
โฐ Reset your pump
Update your insulin pump to local time when you arrive.