| Travel can be a lot of fun, but it takes some | | | | twice as you carry your luggage on should be a |
| advance planning. People with diabetes have to | | | | problem. However, if you are going to be traveling |
| plan a little more. Here are a few things to keep in | | | | a lot, and going through many security checks, |
| mind about your insulin when you head out for | | | | you can ask for your insulin to be visually |
| that dream vacation. | | | | examined. You should also be cautious to make |
| Your Blood Sugar | | | | sure that your insulin is not in the x-ray machine |
| When you are traveling, it is important to monitor | | | | for too long, so asking for a visual examination is |
| your blood sugar more closely. This means | | | | never a bad idea. |
| checking your blood sugar every four hours when | | | | Packing |
| you are awake. Travel can be stressful, which can | | | | When you go on a trip, be sure to bring an extra |
| raise your blood sugar level. Don't treat your blood | | | | supply of insulin and medication with you. You |
| sugar without monitoring it, and monitor it to | | | | want to have all of the medication with you. If |
| make sure that you are giving the correct | | | | you do need to get medication while you are in a |
| dosages of medication and/or insulin. | | | | foreign country, see our advice below. Be sure to |
| Insulin Storage | | | | pack extra syringes and extras of all of the |
| Keep your insulin with you when you travel, in | | | | materials you generally use to monitor and care |
| your carry-on or purse. Insulin needs to stay in a | | | | for your diabetes. |
| fairly moderate temperature zone, and as such, | | | | Insulin Conversions |
| cannot go with your luggage in the depressurized | | | | In the United States, insulin comes in the strength |
| compartment. Also, if there were ever a baggage | | | | U-100. Not every country has insulin standardized, |
| handling mishap, you would want your insulin to be | | | | and some countries offer varying strengths of |
| with you: if your bags end up in Minneapolis-St. | | | | insulin. If you must get insulin when you are away, |
| Paul's when you are in Sao Paulo, you want to | | | | check the strength to make sure it is equivalent. |
| make sure you have your insulin. | | | | If you have to get insulin while you are away, get |
| Insulin does not need to be refrigerated. To keep | | | | the same kind of insulin that you are normally |
| your insulin at moderate temperatures, however, | | | | prescribed. If you cannot get the same brand, get |
| consider the climate in which you are traveling. | | | | the same formulation in a different brand (for |
| Often, keeping your insulin in an insulated container | | | | instance, if you are on Novolog and cannot find |
| or thermos will be enough to keep it cool in warm | | | | any, get Humalog). A pharmacist or doctor can |
| temperatures. If you are someplace very warm, | | | | help you establish which insulin is equivalent. |
| however, you might consider keeping some | | | | Consult a doctor |
| frozen water bottles in your insulated container as | | | | If you have to pick up insulin when you are in a |
| well, which will help keep your insulin even colder. | | | | foreign country, get the kind of insulin that you |
| If you are going to be in cold climates, perhaps | | | | are used to. This particularly means that you |
| skiing, keep your insulin close to your body so | | | | should not switch from a slow-acting to a |
| that it stays warm. | | | | fast-acting insulin, or vice versa. These types of |
| Storing your insulin on a trip is another matter to | | | | changes should always be made with medical |
| deal with. Don't leave your insulin in the glove | | | | supervision. |
| compartment of a car, where temperatures can | | | | Go to a doctor that you trust in a foreign |
| vary. Backpacks can also get very warm in the | | | | country. Consider calling home to get references if |
| sun. Keep your insulin someplace where you can | | | | possibly, or ask a friend in your new location. |
| reach it. | | | | Insulin-dependence can be difficult to manage, |
| X-rays | | | | particularly when traveling. But with a little |
| Insulin manufacturers have a warning on their | | | | forethought and some information, you can plan |
| insulin that you should not expose insulin to x-rays. | | | | an exciting getaway that still maintains your health. |
| This does not mean that being x-rayed once or | | | | |