Tips for Traveling When You Have Diabetes

Diabetes affects millions of Americans, creating particular challenges when travel is involved. If you have diabetes, preparation can help you enjoy your trip without compromising your health.

Not sure where to begin? Honeycomb Medical Group can guide you. At offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Holly Springs, Mississippi, our primary care experts provide chronic care management, preventive support, and routine checkups to help you manage your health.

How traveling affects diabetes

Travel brings exciting new experiences — but if you have diabetes, it can present unique challenges. Let’s explore how to make your trips enjoyable rather than stressful.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly. The result is blood sugar fluctuations that, over time, damage the vessels and nerves.

Most people with diabetes develop a routine, but travel makes it difficult to maintain that structure. Traveling interrupts your usual schedule in several ways, including:

• Reduced physical activity
• Delayed meals
• Travel stress
• Different time zones
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Dehydration
• Unfamiliar or unhealthy foods

Schedule an appointment before you travel to avoid diabetes-related issues. We check your blood work and glucose levels to ensure you can travel safely.

Tips for traveling with diabetes

Get ready to embrace your trip worry-free. Our top tips can help you travel with ease and keep your diabetes in check:

Wear a medical alert ID

It’s critical to wear a medical alert ID when you travel. It lets others know that you have diabetes in case you become hypoglycemic or experience a medical event.

Pack the essentials and keep them close

To give you peace of mind while traveling, keep snacks, glucose tablets, extra syringes, and medications within reach in your carry-on.

Bring extras of everything

Pack extra test strips, syringes, and medications so you have backups if you lose anything or need more while you’re away. You may struggle to replace them while you’re overseas.

Adjust medication schedules

Keep an eye on your medication schedules if you travel to a different time zone. Missing or skipping doses hurts your health while on vacation.

Check blood sugar often

Expect changes in your schedule and eating habits to affect your blood sugar during vacation. Check your blood sugar frequently, especially if you notice changes in how you feel.

Set alarms for medications and checks

Travel can keep you busy and make it easy to forget to check blood sugar levels or take medications. Set alarms on your phone or watch to remind yourself.

Stay hydrated and eat healthy

Drink plenty of fluids and strive to eat healthy to enjoy your vacation without blood sugar problems. You can splurge, but don’t linger getting back on track.

Want to learn more about how to travel safely if you have diabetes? Call us today at one of our convenient Mid-South locations.