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Going On Holiday |
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Diabetes is, of course, no reason not to travel. This section contains some practical advice to help you deal with your diabetes while you are travelling. Another useful web site when going on holiday is Diabetes Travel.
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Insurance |
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Medical attention is free in all EU countries as long as you have a certificate E111 (available from your Post Office or GP.) Treatment under this scheme may not be adequate for your diabetes so make sure that you have suitable travel insurance.
Diabetes UK runs a travel insurance scheme for people with diabetes:
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Vaccinations |
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If you are travelling to countries that require vaccinations have them early as they may upset your diabetes for a while.
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Identity |
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Identity cards or jewellery. Identification bracelets etc are covered in a different section. It is particularly important to have identification if you are travelling. If you are on insulin, it is a good idea to have a letter from your doctor to confirm that you need to carry insulin and needles, in case you are stopped going through customs. Alternatively, Diabetes UK can provide an Insulin User's Identity Card, with photo identification. It costs £5 (call Diabetes UK on 020 7462 2791).
For patients with complications of diabetes or other medical problems, it is sometimes a good idea to take some written information about your condition in case you need to go to hospital while you are away. You can ask your hospital doctor or GP about this.
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Travelling |
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Carry a supply of food in case of delays
If crossing time zones ask your diabetes team about the timing and adjustment of insulin injections
Keep insulin out of direct sunlight and not in the glove compartment or boot of your car as these can get very hot. Consider buying a cool bag.
U100 insulin is not available in all countries. Diabetes UK will have information and travel guides for over 70 countries.
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What To Pack
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Take twice as much insulin or tablets as you think you will need, and plenty of syringes. Keep it all in your hand luggage. It is best to be prepared to use syringes rather than a pen on holiday, in case the pens break. If you need to get insulin or syringes while on holiday outside the UK, remember that insulin comes in different strengths so you need to match the strength of insulin to the type of syringe or the dose will be wrong.
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Planning your Flight |
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Blood sugar can go up and down more than usual on any long journey, so test regularly. Take your insulin or tablets and plenty of carbohydrate snacks and hypo remedies in your hand luggage. Also remember to keep with you all the things you need for testing and any other medicines you are taking (just in case your luggage never arrives!). Some airlines like insulin and syringes/pens to be kept by the cabin crew who will give them to you to inject at appropriate times.
The airline will be able to tell you the times you will be offered food on the flight and will offer you special meals. It is better to stick to the ordinary meals and take plenty of your own snacks too.
Travelling across time zones can be daunting but it is fairly easy to plan how to adjust your insulin or tablets. If the time change is less than four hours, no change is usually needed. If more, the best thing to do is ask your doctor or nurse for specific advice when you have your flight times.
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Long Train, Car or Coach trips |
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As with flying, blood sugar can go up and down more than usual on any long journey, so test regularly. Take your insulin or tablets and plenty of carbohydrate snacks and hypo remedies in your hand luggage. Also remember to keep with you all the things you need for testing and any other medicines you are taking (just in case your luggage never arrives!). You should aim to stop every 2 hours or so to test your blood sugar and eat if you need to.
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Storing Insulin |
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Insulin will last for at least a month if stored at room temperature. If you are travelling to a hot country, store it in the fridge if possible or at least in a cool bag. Don't let it freeze or sit right next to the frozen blocks in a cool bag. If your clear insulin has gone cloudy or your cloudy insulin goes grainy, it has been damaged by the heat and should not be used.
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Food and Exercise on Holiday |
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Your lifestyle is likely to change on holiday, with different foods and activities. Just remember to do plenty of testing to make sure that your blood sugar is not going much too high or low. You may need to drop your insulin dose if you are going to be more active than usual, and remember to take special care if it is very hot.
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Hot Climates |
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Insulin is absorbed more quickly when it is hot so you will need to check your sugar regularly and may need to reduce your insulin dose. Remember to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of sugar-free drinks.
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Illness on Holiday |
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If you become unwell follow the sick day rule card, and seek medical advice if vomiting occurs.
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Deep Vein Thrombosis |
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is the name given to blood clots in the veins that can happen on long flights. Having diabetes does not make you any more likely to develop a DVT. Further information on DVT is available on the Department of Health web site. |
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