When traveling, it’s essential to maintain your diabetes care. Whether you’re off on vacation or visiting a loved one’s home, make sure you have all necessary supplies with you.
Making a traveling with diabetes checklist can help you prepare for anything that may arise during your trip. Following these precautions will allow you to enjoy your vacation without worrying about managing your condition.
1. Medication
Maintaining the necessary medication supplies while traveling can be a challenge. This is especially true if you need to use insulin and make sure you bring enough supplies for the duration of your trip.
Traveling with diabetes can be a stressful endeavor, so having the necessary tools and equipment at your disposal is essential for making the process go as smoothly as possible. With this checklist, you’ll know exactly what items need to be packed for any trip – be it for pleasure or business – so that everything runs smoothly.
Be sure to inform your doctor that you will be traveling and need to bring prescriptions for all of your medications. Doing this makes getting replacement supplies much simpler if they get lost or stolen. Furthermore, inform the airline of your diabetes status so they won’t send you to the hold if your luggage gets lost.
2. Snacks
When traveling, it’s essential to pack snacks that keep you full for extended periods of time and don’t disrupt your blood sugar. Opt for nutrient-dense whole foods that offer a balance of protein, fiber and healthy fats.
Boiling eggs make an excellent travel snack because they’re simple to prepare and filling without adding much carbohydrate. Furthermore, boiled eggs contain low calories at only 0.6 grams of carbohydrates per large egg.
Nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pecans make an ideal snack due to their high protein and fiber content, plus heart-healthy fats which may reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease. Fruits also offer less fast-acting sugars than most other snacks while having fewer calories than ice cream does.
3. Glucose Monitor
Glucose monitors, also referred to as glucometers or blood glucose meters, take a small sample of your blood for testing. They can be attached to an insulin pump or carried in your pocket or purse.
No matter if you’re taking a vacation or visiting family, it is essential to maintain your diabetes routine. That includes testing your glucose levels before meals, bedtime and as needed.
Remember, your diet, exercise and sleep schedule may change when traveling across time zones. Therefore, it is important to check your glucose levels more frequently in order to remain within target range.
Many people with diabetes opt to wear a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). This device uses an embedded sensor under your skin which tests your interstitial glucose level every few minutes. A transmitter then wirelessly sends this data to an electronic display.
4. Insulin Pump
Insulin pumps can be a great option for people living with diabetes who don’t want to take daily injections. But in order for the pump to function optimally within your diabetes plan, it must first be programmed correctly.
The pump continuously delivers a predetermined amount of insulin through a tube known as a cannula that lies beneath your skin, known as the basal rate. This helps keep your blood sugars stable overnight and during periods between meals.
Your pump can also administer an additional dose of insulin, known as a bolus, when you eat or have high blood sugars. Simply tell the pump how much food you’re eating and what your glucose level is, and it will calculate an appropriate bolus dose that maintains optimal glucose levels.
5. Glucagon
Glucagon is a hormone produced by your body to help regulate blood sugar levels. It releases from the pancreas when glucose drops due to prolonged fasting, exercise and protein-rich meals.
Glucagon stimulates your liver and muscle cells to convert stored glycogen back to glucose, which is then released into your bloodstream. It also increases fatty acid synthesis as well as increases fat breakdown into acetyl coenzyme A (beta-oxidation), which in turn is reduced for ATP production or converted to ketone bodies.
Glucagon is typically administered as an injection under the skin of the stomach, thigh or upper arm. It may also be used as a diagnostic aid during X-ray tests of the stomach and bowels to help improve results by relaxing muscles.
