Travelling with Diabetes

Whether for work or pleasure, travel can and should be fun and having diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t travel. With good planning, your trip can be safe, fun and hassle-free whether you’re going interstate or overseas.

While traveling:

Below is information on planning your trip, travel insurance, airport regulation, what to ask your doctor, tips on what to pack and flying.

When booking your flights, you may choose to tell the airline you have diabetes. This will be passed on to the cabin crew who are trained in meeting your needs during the flight. In general, ‘diabetic’ meals served in-flight can be quite bland and no longer necessary. However you may choose to order meals that are low in saturated fat and high in fibre and carbohydrate at the time you make your bookings.

Be sure to make arrangements in advance so that you comply with Australian airline security regulations specifically for people with diabetes. The regulations are:

If you are not travelling with an Australian carrier, be sure to check in advance with your chosen airline for specific security guidelines.

You should arrange travel insurance, both for you and your belongings. Make sure your accident and health cover applies to pre-existing conditions and the places you will visit.

The Australian Government has arrangements with a number of countries providing travellers with benefits similar to Medicare, but these are typically only for acute or emergency care.

At least two months before leaving, talk to your doctor about your travel plans. It is important to discuss your medication/insulin adjustments, Glucagon and testing for ketones during the trip. This is also a good time to arrange the papers you will need to comply with airline regulations.

If your planned trip has different time zones, discuss this too. What you do will depend on your medications and/or your type of insulin. Your doctor may advise you to follow your normal routine until you stop travelling, have a long sleep and then start from scratch when you wake up. On the other hand, you may be given specific information about any medication or insulin changes you may need.

During long hauls, a support hose can help to prevent swelling and may reduce the risk of clotting in the veins of the legs. Check first with your diabetes team if this is okay for you. For some people with reduced circulation, due to conditions such as peripheral neuropathy (a condition caused by damage to the nerves in the peripheral nervous system which typically affects hands, feet and legs), they may not be suitable.

Important information about any vaccinations required can be obtained from your doctor or specialised travel medical centre. They will also advise you of other tablets you may need to take with you just in case, to treat diarrhoea or nausea.

Extreme heat or cold can affect your ability to manage diabetes.

Insulin and blood glucose test strips should be kept under 30 degrees. The strips will be damaged by temperature extremes. To protect them from freezing or from extreme heat take a small insulated bag which you can buy from Diabetes Australia. When flying make sure you carry it in ‘carry on’ luggage. Accuracy of blood glucose results is also affected by temperature. As temperature ranges vary for conducting a test, consult your meter user manual for your meter’s operational temperature range.

Travelling By Air Carry all your medication, insulin, Glucagon, delivery devices and testing equipment in your carry-on luggage, preferably split between two of your bags in case one goes missing. Unless you are travelling alone, it is a good idea to give one bag to your travelling partner to carry.

Pack a separate small bag with the bare minimum of insulin, injection devices, testing equipment and hypo treatment needed for the flight. If taking a long flight, pack enough for the first leg and refill it before each new leg.

EXTRA PRECAUTION – Wear some form of medical identification that says you have diabetes.

It is considered unlikely that insulin would be harmed by exposure to x-rays in security equipment. If you are concerned, you may ask airport security staff to physically check you and your baggage rather than going through the x-ray equipment.

If you use an insulin pump you are not required to remove your pump at a security point. If this is requested, you have the right to request access to a private consultation room, which security is obliged to provide. You are also able to request this room if discussion about your condition is required by security staff.

Guidance on regulations when travelling with medication can be found at the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

During the flight During your flight there are a number of things you can do to ensure you have an enjoyable journey.

The decreased activity while you are on the plane trip, together with the amount of food given often results in increased blood glucose levels. These return to normal once a more usual lifestyle has been resumed at your destination.

If Something Goes Wrong With all that planning, something going wrong is unlikely. However, don’t panic if you need to seek medical assistance when required, if possible, with advice from your travel insurer. Most costs can be recovered through health benefits or through your own medical insurance when you get home.

With careful planning and taking a few precautions, diabetes does not stop you from having a trip that is memorable and hassle-free.