created: 30.09.2004
last modified:
30.09.2004
Travelling with Diabetes?
Can I travel long time, eventually even to far-away countries, with diabetes?
As long as your insulin setting is stable and you're not suffering from any serious consequential disease, there is nothing that speaks against travelling throughout the world. Anyway, there are some general things to take care of:
- Ask your health insurance company if it covers trips abroad. An additional insurance might be needed.
- Check whether your immunizations are up-to-date and whether you need a special vaccination for the country you're travelling to.
- Check whether the medication you will need on your way is complete and don't forget a dictionary to make it easier for you to communicate if you should be in need of any medical help
- If you're going on a flight trip store your test strips, your meter and your insulin in your hand luggage. Many a suitcase has already taken different directions than its owner. To avoid problems with security ask your doctor for a certificate that proves you're diabetic and need to shoot insulin.
- Test your blood more often during your holidays. So many things are different, the food, more activities or more time on your hands to relax and so on, this affects your metabolism. To get a maximum of safety talk to your doctor or Diabetologist about your holiday plans.
- If you're travelling to hot temperature countries, store your insulin in an insulated container, if you're going on a beach holiday take care that the container is also sand and waterproof.
