I travel with type 1 diabetes all the time because I am also a type 1 diabetic. I have travelled through planes and trains on journeys longer than 24 hours.
In this article, I will share tips on how to travel safely as a T1D person.
Always remember, you are different than other people, and your body has different needs. You don’t have to feel inferior because of it, as the truth is we all have different bodies and different needs. Accept it, and then you will be able to overcome your fear.
Main issues while travelling with type 1 are taking injections, keeping their temperature right, and avoiding too many highs and lows.
Well, they may sound like normal tasks, but they are not, and we will discuss how to manage all these while exploring the world.
What to pack?
Essentially, you will need 5 most important things while travelling.
- Insulin
- Money
- Icepacks or Insulin Cooling Cases
- Extra Glucometer Strips or CGM Straps if you use one.
- Extra pens or srynges
Make sure these are in check and you are fine to travel anywhere. Recently, I came across a product called Insulin Cooling Case. Previously, I have used ice packs with an ice cream box, and that was enough for me.
So, make sure to maintain temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius; otherwise, your insulin will stop working, and you will not want that to happen on a journey.
Always Keep Some Snacks With You
Again, there is a danger of getting low blood sugar while travelling. That’s why it is crucial for you to carry some high-fiber snacks when the sugar levels are not that low so you can maintain them at normal levels.
And some sweet snacks when it actually gets lower than 70 mg/dl.
Read this: Foods You Must Avoid In Type 1 Diabetes
Where are you going?
Wherever you are going, make sure there are good hospitals and insulin is available in case of medical emergency, as still some places don’t have insulin available.
Then it is safe to travel because you never know when you are going to need extra insulin.
Always choose a good place to travel and plan everything in advance so if something goes wrong you will have options there.
Always have backup supplies!
Again, it is very very important to carry extra medical supplies with you all the time. Extra test strips, extra insulin, syringes, and needle heads for injections, or whatever tech you use.
Once I was travelling and my needle broke, luckily I was carrying a packet full of them, and I replaced it instantly.
Never let your supplies run out; as you know, without insulin, type 1 diabetics die instantly or get into a coma.
Take enough rest between travel and sightseeing
Rest and recovery are very important in the lives of chronic illness patients. Resting restores our lost energy and keeps our condition normal and our body pain-free.
So, make sure you take enough rest.
Then you can enjoy your journey even better with normal glucose levels and a pain-free head. Sit whenever you get a seat; lay down if you get someplace, even for just five minutes.
Conclusion
Relax, my friend, If you take care of your sugar levels and carry snacks and extra supplies such as glucometer test strips or needles, then you will be fine. I have been doing this, and the first time is scary, but you will get the hang of it.
