Whether travelling locally or internationally, whether you’re an experienced traveller or it’s your first time travelling with diabetes, we have some top tips to help everyone.

People with diabetes often find that good planning and preparation for travel is really helpful as it ensures trips go smoothly and reduces the risk of things being forgotten or overlooked. However, sometimes our travel is more unexpected, but either way, becoming familiar with travel tips and advice reduces stress.

A checklist for travel includes items such as:

• identification on your person that you have diabetes
• cooler packs to carry insulin/medication to maintain recommended temperature while in transit
• a prescription, medication package, and a doctor’s letter as security and identification of diabetes products and medication you carry when you pass through security at airports
• a back-up of extra diabetes supplies and medication
  knowledge of medical facilities in places you will be travelling to and staying at
• a first aid kit
• a hypo kit if you are on diabetes tablets or insulin and sick day instructions
  snacks
• guidelines for safe water and food consumption
• footwear and clothing that is comfortable.

Other ways to prepare

Family, friends and others travelling with you need to be aware that if the experience is to be enjoyable and safe you will need time to test your blood glucose, take medication, treat low or high blood glucose levels and eat at regular times and have appropriate food options.

Have back-up plans if things don’t go as expected. For example, should your blood glucose meter break; having a second blood glucose meter with you will enable you to continue monitoring without fuss and bother.

Have a good understanding of the action of your diabetes medication and/or insulin, when their action is greatest, and how long it lasts. This helps you know when your blood glucose might be more likely to go low. Have snacks with you as well as hypo treatment.

If you are on mealtime mixed insulin ( such as NovoMix 30, or rapid acting insulin such as NovoRapid or Humalog) and are eating out, wait until your food has arrived before you inject in case there is a delay.

Exercise is healthy for us and over this summer we may have more opportunities to exercise, play sport, go on hikes, walking tours and sight-seeing or go swimming. Be mindful about the amount of exercise you are doing and keep tabs on your blood glucose levels, as sometimes low blood glucose can happen hours after exercise.

Even in summer we can be unwell, but there are steps we can take to prevent against diabetes related illness. High blood glucose levels can result from infection, illness, stress, forgotten diabetes medication, medication and insulin subjected to extremes of temperature, insulin devices not working correctly and eating more carbohydrate than the insulin dose covers. High blood glucose levels, particularly over 15.0 mmol/L, can make you feel moody, tired, thirsty, and need to go to the toilet more frequently. If you are unwell and/or have high blood glucose levels, you must seek medical help.