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