Diabetes is not as limiting as a health condition as it used to be once upon a time. Today, we have the means to keep the symptoms and effects of both diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 under control.
Nevertheless, diabetes is a very serious condition which can cause anything from blindness and organ damage to even death when left untreated for even a short time during emergencies. So, travelling with diabetes does come with certain risks, but they are nothing you can’t manage with a few intelligent precautions.
Visit Your Doctor a Week Before Departure
Keep 3 – 7 days between your visit to the doctor and the departure date because it will give you enough time to get the test results, as and if deemed necessary by your diabetic nurse/doctor. The full check-up and a thumbs up will not just save you from any unsuspected, impending danger resulting from your diabetic condition, but it will also boost your confidence to go out and travel the world.
Get Medical Travel Insurance
Even if you have already opted for travel insurance, you may require special travel insurance if you have medical conditions. Pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes may not be covered by your holiday insurance, which is something that you need to confirm first. In case your travel insurer does not cover diabetic emergencies or consequent treatment, it can be a cause for concern.
That doesn’t, however, mean that you will have to choose between putting off your holiday indefinitely or travel with the risk of being stranded in a foreign land without medical insurance to take care of the expenses! Just visit Staysure and get your travel insurance from them instead, because Staysure does cover diabetic conditions. In fact, they also cover the charges of managing emergencies and paying for treatments made necessary during the holiday, as a result of any pre-existing medical condition.
Make a List of Things You Need to Carry
There is absolutely no point in taking any risks, especially when it may spoil your holiday completely! Make a sturdy list of everything you need to carry or buy and check them all into your bag at least 2 – 3 nights before the departure date. Some of the common items that should be on that checklist are as follows.
- Copious amounts of insulin and other prescription meds in an insulin bag
- Medical ID bracelet
- Pack your own snacks for the flight (nuts, fruits, etc.)
- An updated and recent prescription from your doctor
- A glucose monitor and the insulin pump
Walk in the Plane if it’s a Long Flight
If the flight is a long one, make sure that you keep any blood clots from forming, which can happen when you are sitting in your seat for too long. Walk down the aisle of the plane every 30-minutes to an hour, and if anyone objects, let them know about the situation.
They will understand, though, because flight attendants are trained to know about the necessity of movement for diabetics. The same advice applies to long car rides as well; just tell the driver to stop by the side of the road, or if you are driving yourself, set an alarm to make sure you are keeping those clots at bay.
So to conclude, we would say that travelling as a diabetic is actually not that difficult really! Sure, there are preventive measures to take and it will require more effort than otherwise, but it’s not too much of a hassle either. Learn to understand your disease, take the necessary precautions as mentioned here, and pay heed to the instructions of your doctor, to have a safe trip ahead.
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