Outdoor Vacation – Taking A Beach Trip

Author: Rouben Hw
Source: ezinearticles.com

I have traveled quite a bit in the last few years, and it is always tough to manage diabetes. I backpacked in Europe this last summer, and it was perhaps the most challenging. We were often staying in hotels and hostels, and finding refrigeration for my insulin was sometimes difficult. It is not essential to keep insulin in a refrigerator at all times, but insulin can lose its effectiveness if exposed to too much heat or cold. For example, I once left my insulin on the dashboard of my car in the middle of summer a few years ago. When I tried to inject the insulin later that afternoon, it was almost completely ineffective. I had to take several times the typical dose. Whenever I travel, I am very protective of my insulin. I do not want to find myself in the middle of a foreign country without it working correctly. That, to me, would spell disaster.

Many companies make cooling devices for insulin. Unfortunately, I have not purchased one of these devices yet (although I strongly intend to buy one before my next trip). Insulin is not everything, though. I also always have glucose tablets with me when I travel. I also like to carry granola bars or other snack items with me in case I need some more complex carbohydrates than juice or the tablets. I make it a rule to have at least a few pieces of food with me at all times when I am traveling. The extra food has saved in quite a few situations.

Flying with Diabetes
I have often found flying to be the biggest challenge. Today, most flights in the U.S. do not provide food to passengers (except perhaps a few imitation pretzels). When I was young, I thought that eating on a plane was one of its luxuries. In recent years, I have always found that I am happier when I bring my own food. Even when I travel on long flights, I am often unimpressed by the food options. I used to think that the special diabetes meal must be good, but I often found that the special option simply meant the removal of the dessert. If you have space in your bag, I highly recommend bringing food that you will enjoy.

Getting through Security
In the past, security guards often were perplexed when they saw my insulin pump. Sometimes, I was able to get through without a question being asked. If I set off the alarm, though, I would usually be bombarded with inquiries about the pump. I have started carrying prescriptions for all of my diabetes supplies with me. This has helped get me through much more quickly. I also think that the guards are becoming more familiar with my diabetes accoutrements, and they are usually more willing to let me through without the barrage of questions. (After 9-11, it was a nightmare. In one case, I almost missed my flight because the guard was trying to call my doctor at 9pm to verify that I was indeed a diabetic. In another case, I had Gatorade with me in a water bottle. The guard forced me to drink some of it to prove that it was not poison or acid. Luckily, I only sipped it and my blood sugar did not escalate too much.)

General Guidelines
It goes without saying that you should plan ahead very carefully. Make sure to have enough medicine (whether insulin, pills, or otherwise) and enough testing supplies. On my first trip out of the country, a trip to Benin, West Africa, I brought just enough supplies based on my estimated daily use. However, when I got sick with malaria a few weeks into the trip, I was using far more test strips than originally anticipated. I used my test strips sparingly the rest of the trip, and I had just enough. Nevertheless, I have since always brought more diabetes supplies than I need. I have never regretted it.

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