Follow these tips if you’re traveling with diabetes. That means packing extra supplies and medications, contacting transportation in advance, and preparing for your travel adventures with diabetes in mind.
Traveling with diabetes can feel daunting, with the extra planning that goes into packing extra supplies, managing travel day blood sugar swings, perseverance through security checkpoints, and the general anxiety around finding the right things to eat at the right time.
This goes beyond the usual travel planning needs, such as tracking flights, researching your destination, making reservations, and just packing everything else for the trip.
With a little expert planning, there is no reason people with diabetes can’t both keep their specific health needs in mind and also enjoy their travel adventure.
The first thing to keep in mind when traveling with diabetes is that you need time to prepare. Always plan to pack at least several days in advance, so you aren’t in a rush when packing and can thoughtfully map out everything you’ll need.
Your preparations will depend on where and how long you’re away but any traveler with diabetes should start with these steps.
Get a doctor’s note
Have your doctor write a note explaining your condition (e.g., if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes) and your medication needs. It’s a good idea to make a few copies of the note in case you misplace one.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides this example of a diabetes doctor’s note, and the Taking Care of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) organization also offers this example of a travel-specific doctor’s note.
While you’re at the doctor’s office, you might want to ask for an extra prescription in case you need to get more medication while you’re away. You can also use this appointment to establish an action plan for when you’re experiencing a diabetic emergency.
Call transportation in advance
It’s always a good idea to review the airline’s or transportation service’s website to see what’s allowed and whether or not they can accept special requests.
Airlines usually do not prevent you from bringing your diabetes medications and supplies on board. But they may have a special procedure for checking and handling your medication. It’s important that you seal all medication in a different plastic bag from your other liquids and have everything labeled clearly.
Also, it’s worth asking if airline or train staff can refrigerate your medication for you on long trips, particularly those overseas that may last several hours.
Pack healthy snacks
Stay one step ahead of your hunger and away from junk food by preparing servings of healthy snacks that don’t need to be refrigerated. Keep in mind, though, how each snack affects your blood sugar. Great healthy snack options are:
- mixed nuts and seeds
- air-popped popcorn
- whole grain crackers
- dried fruit
A quick rule of thumb is to
- insulin pump supplies, including cartridges, reservoirs, and infusion sets or Omnipods
- continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) supplies, including sensors, and if you might need a separate transmitter
- extra syringes if you take multiple daily injections
- vials of long-acting insulin or short acting (as a backup if you’re insulin pumping)
- backup glucose meter, lancets, and test strips in case your CGM or pump malfunctions while traveling
- alcohol swabs, medical adhesive wipes, adhesive patches
- fast-acting sugar like glucose tablets
- any chargers you’ll need for your devices.
Make sure to pack even more extra sensors or Pods if you’re traveling in the summer heat, if you’ll be swimming a lot, or if you’re traveling to a humid climate, where adhesives may not stay in place as well.
Remember, you’ll never regret packing extra, but you’ll always regret running out of supplies.
No matter how much you prepare, sometimes things don’t go quite as planned. Even if the worst-case scenario does happen, these steps should help you handle it safely and quickly.
Let others know about your diabetes
Be honest and candid about your diabetes with your travel companions. If you’re traveling solo, it’s especially important to carry a medical ID that outlines your condition.
That way, if you experience a low blood sugar episode and you lose control or consciousness before you can tend to it, the right information will allow the people around you to help quickly and appropriately.
It’s also a good idea to carry a card in your wallet with more detailed info — like whether or not you take insulin — and instructions on how to handle a diabetes emergency according to the plan you discussed with your doctor.
Lastly, be sure to store your emergency contact number on your cell phone under “Emergency Contact.” Paramedics will look for this if you’re unconscious or unable to respond to their questions.
Store diabetes supplies properly
First, make sure you have all your medicine and supplies. To protect the potency of your medication, and account for unforeseen changes in your travel plans, be sure to:
- Bring a cool gel pack to chill your insulin. Don’t use an ice pack since freezing will ruin your insulin.
- Pack enough supplies to last for twice as long as your trip. It’s better to be overprepared than underprepared.
- Make sure all your medication has the original pharmacy label.
Keep your diabetes supplies within reach
Keep your insulin and medication in a carry-on stored in an overhead bin near you or a personal item under your seat. Don’t keep your medications in your checked luggage.
You should always travel with snacks in your backpack or carry-on to account for missed or delayed meals. It’s also smart to keep concentrated glucose sources, like glucose tablets, ready in case you need a quick boost.
Note about insulin pumps when flying
Research suggests that your blood sugar may fluctuate due to air bubbles in your insulin pump during air travel, particularly during take-off and landing. Some doctors recommend briefly disconnecting an insulin pump at these times and programming a small bolus to help insulin push any small air bubbles from the tubing.
Always consult your diabetes care team for guidance before traveling, including how to manage your blood sugars and insulin delivery.
Traveling with diabetes, despite the challenges, can have some perks.
If you are flying domestically (within the United States), you are eligible for certain protections and accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, administered through the TSA Cares program.
You’ll need to tell a TSA security officer that you have diabetes, and if they question it, tell them it’s a protected class of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
To make this easier, you may want to utilize the TSA Disability Notification Card. Simply print out the card at home and fill in your information. It can help you save time and any awkwardness in the TSA security line, while still ensuring you receive the disability accommodations you are guaranteed in the United States.
To further avoid any confrontation or questioning at the TSA security checkpoint, you can also carry a letter from your endocrinologist or primary care physician confirming your condition and outlining your diabetes needs. Here’s a sample letter that may help you and your doctor get started.
Once you’ve communicated that you have a disability, you are entitled to the following:
- You are allowed to carry liquids through security if they’re used to treat low blood sugar. If you regularly treat your lows with orange juice, for example, you can bring it through TSA security. Just make sure to let them know it is “medical,” and they’ll manually scan it and allow it through.
- The TSA states that passengers with portable insulin pumps or glucose monitors can be screened using advanced imaging technology or metal detectors, or they may be asked to undergo a simple pat-down. If you’re unsure if your device will be damaged by any imaging technology, check with your device manufacturer for guidance.
- You are allowed to carry an unlimited supply of your diabetes supplies, with no questions asked. No, you won’t get in trouble for flying with 100 insulin syringes in your carry-on, despite any sideways glances you may receive.
- People with disabilities, including diabetes, are always allowed to preboard flights. This can give you extra time walking down the jet bridge, or to set up your things, so you can arrange for your diabetes supplies and low snacks to be out and near you during the flight. On smaller flights, this also ensures that your roller carry-on bag actually makes it onto the plane with you, instead of you being forced to gate check it. Being without your insulin and/or diabetes supplies, for any amount of time, against your will, is never OK.
- People with disabilities are allowed an extra carry-on bag (personal item-size only) for their medical supplies. This is in addition to any personal item or carry-on bag you’re already taking onboard, only if it contains just your diabetes supplies.
Diabetes alert dogs are protected, too
If you have a Diabetes Alert Dog (DAD) and they need to fly with you, you may also tell a TSA officer that you utilize a service dog for your diabetes management, print out a TSA Disability Notification Card with that information on it, or provide a letter from your doctor stating your need for a service animal, and you shouldn’t have any trouble.
If you have any questions, you can call TSA’s toll-free helpline for people with disabilities at 855-787-2227 with questions about screening policies, procedures, and what to expect during your security screening.
Also, remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations do not apply when you’re traveling internationally. Take extra precautions when traveling abroad, and note that certain allowances (such as preboarding flights and carrying juice through security) may not be permitted at foreign airports.
When your schedule changes, it’s more difficult to predict and account for blood sugar shifts. Throw in a host of new activities or much more downtime than usual, and you’ll likely have to make some careful changes to prevent a diabetic emergency.
When meal times tend to shift, and you’re eating out more than you usually do, you’ll probably need to check your blood glucose more often to stay on track. Aim to test your blood before and after your first meal to see how it affects your body.
While you’re out exploring the world, remember that long days of sightseeing can drain your glucose levels, and lazy afternoons by the pool can lead to higher blood glucose levels.
If you are enjoying a different level of activity than you usually do, be prepared to test your blood sugar more often throughout the day.
With some planning before your travels and being flexible during a trip, people with diabetes can safely enjoy their travels and wherever those adventures may take them.