Do you take a family vacation during the summer? Whether it’s to the beach or the mountains, many families plan their vacations for the warm weather months, when school is out and work slows down in many industries. However, if you or a member of your family has diabetes, you may need to take a few extra steps before hitting the road.
At Irving Coppell Primary Care and Pediatrics in Irving, Texas, our expert team treats adults and children who have diabetes. Whether it’s type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, you have a chronic disease that requires management. You likely need to monitor your glucose, plan your meals, take daily medications, and manage your lifestyle to keep yourself feeling your best.
For the most part, traveling with diabetes just means you need to do a bit of extra planning. Here are a few tips for making sure that your family can focus more on the joy of summer travel than on managing diabetes.
If you’re flying, especially internationally, it can be helpful to have a letter from our office that describes your condition, the medication and equipment you need, and instructions for administering medicines. You may need it as you go through airport security, for example.
It’s also helpful to get a written prescription in case something happens to your bag containing your medication. If you’re traveling to a different time zone, we can help you calculate when to take your medication so that your routine remains on schedule.
Do you know how to get medical help on a cruise? What about on a long train trip? Find out how to access medical care at each stage of your journey. Hopefully you won’t need it.
If you’re working with a travel agent, they can help you locate pharmacies and medical centers at your destination. Wear a medical alert bracelet on your trip, just in case.
Take your time with packing. Begin by making a detailed list of the supplies you need, and give yourself time to add to it if necessary. Pack extra supplies, as travel can be unpredictable. If your flight is delayed, for example, having extra medication can be a life-saver.
If you’re flying, pack your medical supplies, such as your blood glucose monitor, test strips, insulin pump, medications, syringes, and other items in your carry-on bag. Alert security that you have medical supplies that shouldn’t be X-rayed, so that they can perform inspections by hand. Make sure that all of your equipment has a manufacturer’s label attached.
Traveling can be hectic, and your meal routine can easily be disrupted. Keep some healthy snacks in your bag, and take along a refillable water bottle. If possible, check the menus of restaurants where you plan to eat so you know what’s available and fits your meal plan.
It may take a little extra planning, but it’s possible to enjoy summer travel when you have diabetes. For advice tailored to your specific travel plans and family, schedule an appointment at Irving Coppell Primary Care and Pediatrics in Irving, Texas, today.
