Travel Tips for Diabetics
A trip can be a great getaway. But,
people with diabetes often feel
it's too difficult to manage their
condition away from home --
so they avoid traveling. The good news is
that, with extra planning and careful packing,
you can avoid complications -- such
as low blood sugar -- while on the road.
Brandi Rappaport, M.D., an internist on staff at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, offers these tips to make your next vacation hassle-free:
- Several weeks before you leave, check in with your doctor. Ask if you need any immunizations if you are traveling abroad, or whether you should get an identification bracelet or necklace with emergency medical information.
- Fill your prescriptions. Experts recommend taking along twice the amount of medication and diabetic supplies you normally would need, in case your plans change.
- When you travel by plane, pack all your medications and diabetic supplies in your carry-on luggage. And, be sure to call your airline to ask about the latest security policies. For example, they may require that all medicines and your glucagon kit be kept in their original containers, with labels from the pharmacy.
- If you are flying, ask your doctor how to adjust the pressure in your insulin vials so your insulin dispenses properly.
- Ask your airline carrier how to pack lancets. You may be able to board the plane with your lancets capped if you also have a glucose meter with the manufacturer's name embossed on it.
- Take emergency supplies, such as glucose tablets, to treat your blood sugar. Also, pack small snacks to eat on the road. Ask your doctor about adjusting your medication and meals if you travel across different time zones.
- Check your blood sugar frequently while you're away from home to find out how your trip is affecting your diabetes.
Diabetes: Control Matters Managing your diabetes on a daily basis, as well as when you travel, takes control. At Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, the Diabetes: Control Matters program can help you or your loved one learn to manage the condition and lead a healthy, active lifestyle. Services include:
- Assessment and followup with a certified diabetic nurse educator or a certified dietitian educator;
- Flexible individual and family counseling;
- Behavior modification, goal-setting and results tracking;
- Collaboration with your family physician and other specialists, as needed;
- Instruction on glucose levels and administering insulin;
- Foot exams.
If you or a loved one has diabetes, find out how Diabetes: Control Matters can help. Call us today at (609) 835-5813.
To receive a FREE brochure about the Diabetes: Control Matters program, call 1-888-LOURDES (568-7337).
