Tips for Travel as a Type 1 Diabetic, after my trip to the Netherlands.
Oh, I know how fun traveling can be, but I also know how stressing it can be as a Type 1 Diabetic. As a non-diabetic, you are able to worry just about whether or not you have enough shirts, socks, underwear, your toothbrush, and your passport. For a diabetic, we STILL have to worry about those things, but we also have to worry about Insulin, pen needles, pumps, glucometer, strips, lancets, CGMs, extra CGMs, and probably something else I am forgetting.
How do We have Room for This?
How do we have room for all of this? We don’t. But we make room, we take an extra bag, we pay the extra money, just to have what we need to survive. Oh right, juice boxes or low snacks need to be packed too, so make some room for that. How do you keep your insulin cold enough? I keep mine in a small cooler and I sometimes ask if I can keep my insulin in the airplanes fridge. It is VERY important to keep your medical supplies as a carry on, in case your checked bag gets lost.
Packing List:
- Pump supplies
- CGM supplies
- Insulin
- Cooler pack for insulin
- Insulin pen and pen needles
- Test strips and glucometer
- Low snacks
- Batteries/chargers for pump
Make sure you have about 2-3x of what you think you need, because you never know.
Airport Security Tips:
Always let them know that you are a type 1 diabetic, and where your medical stuff is. This helps it go by faster as well as makes it less stressful for everyone. If you have gone through the airport with your insulin pump or CGM showing, most of the time, the TSA agent will ask you to touch them with your hands and give you an Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) Test. This should not be a concern, and it only takes a few seconds! TSA should and does allow us diabetics to carry our low snacks or juices to treat hypos/lows, even if they are greater than 3.4 oz. If you do not want to be stopped, then I recommend just having glucose tablets or nerd gummy clusters, these both help get your sugars back up quickly!
Airline and Foreign Travel:
I just recently found out that a letter from your doctor or a pharmaceutical label for your supplies may be necessary depending on where you are going. They may question you about them and having the letter and labels will help you out a bunch! You also are allowed to have a full water bottle; you just need to make sure they know you are a type 1 diabetic.
Abroad
While abroad having snacks, insulin and water on you is super important. When I travel, it involves a lot of walking and exploring, so having these things can keep you healthy and feeling good. Make sure you have cooling packs in case you are in a place that gets toasty, we do NOT want your insulin going bad. With the uncertain foods and meals you will be having, make sure you do your best to look up or ask the amount of carbs is in it, so you can keep up with your sugars. If you have the option, I HIGHLY recommend using an insulin while traveling, yes, it is more to pack, but less stressing and easier to do insulin while walking, on the plane, and allows you more time to enjoy your trip.
Random Highs and Random lows
Give yourself grace. I understand that Diabetes does not understand that you may be on vacation but prepare yourself for those unexpected highs and lows. Understand you are in a different environment, doing different things. Altering routines can make it hard for regulations, so do your best and still find time to enjoy your trip. Also remember that sleep is super important in regulation, so make sure that you get rest and prepare for jetlag.
My trip to Amsterdam (highs and lows)
My trip was a study abroad, so not really a vacation, but it was full and busy. Every day was different, and the jetlag was pretty bad. We were there for a week, I had other classes to work on as well as the class I went with, so as you can imagine, I was pretty stressed. Because of this my sugars were high a large portion of the trip. I did my best to do more Lantus and learn how many carbs were found in each meal I had.
It was difficult, so I understand when going on a trip just does not go your way. I have been there, and I have done that. The only meal in which I was correct about the amount of carbs was when we ate at McDonalds, which I mean, you got to try European McDonalds at least once. I packed extra of everything, so I was not stressed about whether or not I packed enough. They let me carry juice boxes through security and my cooler/freezer pack for my insulin.
The one thing I wish I had done, was switch over to my insulin pump instead of staying on insulin shots. It would have made regulating my sugars much easier and honestly, it would have made the trip less stressing. But I am thankful for this trip and all that I was able to learn, not just through the class I took, but about how to better handle my t1d abroad.
Thanks!
If you liked this blog, I am sure you would enjoy checking out any of my social media platforms! You can find them at the top of my page! Thank you guys!
Peace
Gracie
