Travelling with Type 1 Diabetes

Managing T1D on its own is a full-time job, but travelling with it is a whole other ballgame – especially if you are travelling on your own or with friends over reading week. One of my most memorable travel adventures is when a friend, my mom, and I took a road trip through the US and hit 11 different states!! It was over the winter holidays and this incident took place on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans. The three of us were walking around when suddenly, I got a severe low BG alert on my Medtronic pump. I only had a small pack of gummies with me which did not have enough carbs to bring up my sugars, so we had to rush into the closest bar and ask for a BIG glass of juice. 30 minutes later, we were back enjoying the night life of the downtown core, but let me tell you… I ALWAYS carry multiple snacks and juices now so that I never get caught in that kind of pickle again!! Check out my other diabetes travel tips below…

5 T1D Travel Tips for Beginners

The following are some tips and tricks I have picked up and learned along the way which I think new T1Ds or seasoned T1Ds who are beginning to travel without parents or guardians may find helpful!!

1. One of the first obstacles you may need to tackle as you set out on your adventure is the airport. Getting through security is step one; make sure you have your doctor’s note readily available and do not put your insulin through the X-ray machine! The security people may give you a hard time if you have juices, but calmly explain that you are T1D and show your travel doctors note, and you should be good to go! Sometimes insulin can set off the alarms as it can be mistaken for explosives, so make sure you wash your hands well before going through security!
2. Then comes the transportation. Getting on the airplane is often overlooked, but effectively regulating your BGs in the air can make or break the rest of your trip! Never be afraid or embarrassed to ask the flight attendants for juice if you are low or a glass of water if you are high. Bring extra snacks just in case, and remember that for longer flights, you’ll be sitting for a while so watch your sugars and adjust your insulin as needed.
3. Depending on where you are travelling to, there may be a language barrier. It is a good idea to have a printed paper with important phrases translated into the country’s official language including, “I am type 1 diabetic”, “where is the closest hospital?”, and “I need juice for a medical condition”.
4. Also be sure to pack back up insulin and diabetes supplies. Bring as much as you can in your carry on, and pack extra in your luggage, just in case. Also be sure to bring along a bag that you can load up with supplies and snacks for long days of sightseeing or lounging on the beach!
5. Vacations are a time for many of us to detach and unwind, however, for us T1Ds, there is no breaks or “time off”. Diabetes does not go away when you are on vacation. You still need to carb count, bolus, administer injections, check your BGs, and be mindful of how you are feeling. If this upcoming reading week is your first time travelling without your parents or guardians, make sure you have multiple safety plans in place and talk to your diabetes team so that you can have a safe and enjoyable trip! Happy reading week and safe travels!