Taking Care of Your Diabetes When You're Away From Home

Taking care of your diabetes, even on vacation, is very important.

Here are some tips:

• Follow your meal plan as much as possible when you eat out. Always carry a snack with you in case you have to wait to be served.
  
  
• Limit your drinking of beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages. Ask your diabetes educator how much alcohol you can safely drink. Eat something when you drink.
  
  
• If you're taking a long trip by car, check your blood glucose before driving. Stop and check your blood glucose every 2 hours. Always carry snacks like fruit, crackers, juice, or soda in the car in case your blood glucose drops too low.
  
  
• Ask ahead of time for a diabetes meal if you're traveling by plane. Most airlines serve special meals for people with health needs. Carry food (like crackers or fruit) with you in case meals are late.
  
  
• Carry your medicines (insulin, insulin needles, and diabetes pills) and your blood testing supplies with you. Never put them in your checked luggage.
  
  
• Ask your health care team how to adjust your medicines, especially your insulin, if you're traveling across time zones.
  
  
• Take comfortable, well-fitting shoes on vacation. You'll probably be walking more than usual, so you should take extra care of your feet.
  
  
• If you're going to be away for a long time, ask your doctor for a written prescription for your diabetes medicine and the name of a doctor in the place you're going to visit.
  
  
• Don't count on buying extra supplies when you're traveling, especially if you're going to another country. Different countries use different kinds of insulin, needles, and pills.
  
  

When traveling by plane, find out if and when a meal will be served. Then decide when to take your insulin shot or diabetes pills. You may need to bring your own food for the trip.

ACTION STEPS If you use insulin When you travel, Buy special insulated bags to carry your insulin and to keep it from freezing or getting too hot. Take extra needles, insulin, and blood glucose test strips in case of loss or breakage. Ask your doctor for a letter saying that you have diabetes and need insulin shots.

Printer-friendly version of the "Action Steps" if you use insulin

source: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/specialtimes.htm