Hi, I've got a new job and as part of training I've to go to a different country for 3 weeks. The flight will be 12 hours so I'm worried about what to eat etc. Do I just carry on as normal if at home? Plus my new job doesn't know about my diabetes and as I'm traveling in a group I'm sure they might see my insulin stuff through security etc. I usually like to keep my diabetes type 1 private. Anyone that travels for work, can you give me any of your tips and experiences? I'm worried a small bit. Thanks
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Working away for 3 weeks
- Thread starter loloy321
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Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi loloy.
I can't advise on the foreign travel.
But I would advise that your company need to know, if only for their own insurance, etc. If there's any part of your job that requires disclosure by them, you could put them in a legally sticky position. And they won't hesitate in dismissing you for non-disclosure.
If it doesn't affect your job then you've nothing to lose by tellign them. You'll need to tell the airline you're travelling with I would imagine. They'll need to know you have T1 equipment in your hand luggage and you can't put insulin in the hold because it'll freeze.
Rob
I can't advise on the foreign travel.
But I would advise that your company need to know, if only for their own insurance, etc. If there's any part of your job that requires disclosure by them, you could put them in a legally sticky position. And they won't hesitate in dismissing you for non-disclosure.
If it doesn't affect your job then you've nothing to lose by tellign them. You'll need to tell the airline you're travelling with I would imagine. They'll need to know you have T1 equipment in your hand luggage and you can't put insulin in the hold because it'll freeze.
Rob
Of course if asked if I have any medical conditions etc I will tell them, I have not been asked yet. I don't like just blurting out ' oh I've got diabetes' I don't see the need to disclose that information about myself, it's like putting a label on myself. Yes I've got a letter from my doctor to say il be carrying insulin and sharps. Although in the past going on holiday airlines never ask about it as they are used to seeing insulin every day I guess.
I'm similar to you in my attitude, I started a new job a year ago and I only told my boss when I started. Other people found out in passing (I don't keep it a secret as such, just don't announce it either!) and I find that if people already know you as a person they don't generally react much to your diabetes, if you don't make a big deal of it, which it sounds as though you don't.
I'm sure if you keep your insulin in your hand luggage when it's scanned the equipment operators will recognise it and be fine - I've sent mine though the machine without declaring it before and there were no comments. Then just try injecting insulin at the table on your training course and see if anyone comments - I bet nobody will!
I'm sure if you keep your insulin in your hand luggage when it's scanned the equipment operators will recognise it and be fine - I've sent mine though the machine without declaring it before and there were no comments. Then just try injecting insulin at the table on your training course and see if anyone comments - I bet nobody will!
Kim23
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I can undertand you don't want people to know so your not labelled but surely thats a bit silly if in case you have an accident especially if your in a foreign country and if you don't tell your work then you will not be covered under their insurance if anything does happen.
Pumper_Sue
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Loloy - regarding insulin regime while overseas - it all depends on what insulin regime you are using. If it's basal bolus / MDI, then you continue to take short acting with each meal (might be as many as 5 meals). You can either shift your long acting towards what's convenient in your destination (probably best for a period of 3 weeks) or leave it at home time. I find a digital watch with dual time function very useful when travelling across time zones.
Definitely tell whoever is arranging travel insurance, otherwise your policy may be invalid. Other than that, it depends on how you deal with your condition - I've led an expedition and not told anyone else, because I couldn't trust them to be any use, and like at home, I needed no help at all.
Finally, where are you going? I'm guessing New Zealand due to the 12 hour reference? Have a great trip!
Definitely tell whoever is arranging travel insurance, otherwise your policy may be invalid. Other than that, it depends on how you deal with your condition - I've led an expedition and not told anyone else, because I couldn't trust them to be any use, and like at home, I needed no help at all.
Finally, where are you going? I'm guessing New Zealand due to the 12 hour reference? Have a great trip!
Thanks for replies. So should I email HR and tell her I have diabetes? It seems a bit bizarre to send an email like that? Hello, I have diabetes!! What if they tell me they can't hire me because of the diabetes. Although its a desk job so there would be no reason why they couldn't. This is beginning to upset me 
I try not to make a big deal out of diabetes but it seems to be becoming one now
I try not to make a big deal out of diabetes but it seems to be becoming one now
Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Thanks for replies. So should I email HR and tell her I have diabetes? It seems a bit bizarre to send an email like that? Hello, I have diabetes!! What if they tell me they can't hire me because of the diabetes. Although its a desk job so there would be no reason why they couldn't. This is beginning to upset me
I would just explain that you don't consider it a disability and would prefer to keep it as a personal condition btu realise that, in the circumstances, they may need to know. Slipped your mind abotu insurance cover, etc. Can provide GP name to confirm good control.
However much it is in the background of your life, it is material to others, just as a heart murmur or a dodgy knee might be to others. It's never affected my working life but I've always spoken up after I've the interview. They can't discriminate against you unless it affects your work adversely.🙂
ROb
So I told HR that I have diabetes, just in case they need to know when booking flights for insurance reasons etc. HR said it was fine, thanks for letting them know and they will let whoever is booking corporate flights know, and also let the people in the country im going to know also. Gosh I hope they don't announce to everyone about it. But on the other hand maybe this will be good for me to be open about it as I've always kept diabetes private in the past.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Always good to be honest so you know you've done your part. I know some people don't want it broadcast far and wide that they have diabetes, often because people will then make false assumptions based on it (that you must have been fat and lazy, and 'should you really be eating that?' 😱 One of the good things about the forum meets is that you can be perfectly candid and open about it and that can be very refreshing if you've been keeping it hidden in the past 🙂 I worked alongside a guy my age for 7 years and only found out he was Type 1 when I got diagnosed myself when a mutual friend told me!
I hope you enjoy your trip, remember to take your supplies in your hand luggage, and spares in case anything should go amiss (better to be prepared! 🙂)
DeusXM
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Look at this in the best possible light. It's very easy when you have diabetes to become stuck in your routine, and get anxious about disruption. Use this trip as a great opportunity to demonstrate to yourself that you can do what you like with diabetes.
I'm much like you in that I'm 'don't ask, don't tell'. You don't pipe up at work and tell everyone you've got asthma or hayfever or arthritis or whatever, therefore I don't really feel the need to do so for diabetes. This is because as long as you manage your diabetes, it's no more of a problem than any other condition.
As for the practicalities....
Get a doctor's note explaining you need all your needles, insulin etc. to go with you in your hand luggage. You probably won't need this but it's always handy.Take enough supplies for 3 weeks plus an additional 50%, you never know.
Put all your diabetes supplies in your hand luggage. Insulin will freeze in the hold. Plus, given how luggage in the hold can go missing, I can't imagine a worse situation than landing in Miami and finding my Novorapid is currently circulating a baggage carousel in Murmansk. There is some debate about whether your medical supplies don't count towards your hand luggage amount. My approach is to not be a pain at the airport and just put everything all in the same bag and stick to the weight limits.
You'll probably get stopped when your bag goes through the x-ray as the security staff get all excited when they see liquids in your bag, only to become incredibly bored and disappointed to find it's only insulin. Don't worry about keeping insulin cold for the flight but you'll want to put unopened carts in the fridge when you land.
Also, expect to find your BGs get screwed up a bit on a flight. On every flight I go on, I always screw up the carb estimating on the meals and flying seems to just make my BGs go up anyway, presumably from the stress. Deal with it as best you can but don't worry too much about it. Don't order a 'diabetic' meal on the plain unless you consider cardboard to be an essential part of a balanced diet. Also, 'diabetic' usually means 'a big piece of fruit instead of a small cake' which is largely useless in terms of diabetes control difference.
Assuming you're on MDI....you'll also need to plan seriously regarding your basal insulin. If you're flying for 12 hours, you are probably going to encounter a significant time difference (unless you're going to South Africa). What you'll need to do is start adjusting your basal timing by two hour intervals - depending on where you're going, you'll either need to do it two hours earlier or two hours later. Keep moving this every day as appropriate. You can then move your basal to be at a more convenient time for the time difference without compromising on your control.
For example, say I'm going to Thailand (6 hours ahead) and I do my basal at 8pm. That's 2am in Thailand, a bit impractical. So before I fly, I'll move it back to 6pm (12am), then 4pm (10pm). Then when I land in Thailand I can then do my next one at 8pm Thai time (2pm UK) and it's all good. As another note, pick a time zone and stick to it for the entire flight if you need to inject a basal while actually flying. Makes things much easier. And obviously, reverse the process for your flight back.
I'm much like you in that I'm 'don't ask, don't tell'. You don't pipe up at work and tell everyone you've got asthma or hayfever or arthritis or whatever, therefore I don't really feel the need to do so for diabetes. This is because as long as you manage your diabetes, it's no more of a problem than any other condition.
As for the practicalities....
Get a doctor's note explaining you need all your needles, insulin etc. to go with you in your hand luggage. You probably won't need this but it's always handy.Take enough supplies for 3 weeks plus an additional 50%, you never know.
Put all your diabetes supplies in your hand luggage. Insulin will freeze in the hold. Plus, given how luggage in the hold can go missing, I can't imagine a worse situation than landing in Miami and finding my Novorapid is currently circulating a baggage carousel in Murmansk. There is some debate about whether your medical supplies don't count towards your hand luggage amount. My approach is to not be a pain at the airport and just put everything all in the same bag and stick to the weight limits.
You'll probably get stopped when your bag goes through the x-ray as the security staff get all excited when they see liquids in your bag, only to become incredibly bored and disappointed to find it's only insulin. Don't worry about keeping insulin cold for the flight but you'll want to put unopened carts in the fridge when you land.
Also, expect to find your BGs get screwed up a bit on a flight. On every flight I go on, I always screw up the carb estimating on the meals and flying seems to just make my BGs go up anyway, presumably from the stress. Deal with it as best you can but don't worry too much about it. Don't order a 'diabetic' meal on the plain unless you consider cardboard to be an essential part of a balanced diet. Also, 'diabetic' usually means 'a big piece of fruit instead of a small cake' which is largely useless in terms of diabetes control difference.
Assuming you're on MDI....you'll also need to plan seriously regarding your basal insulin. If you're flying for 12 hours, you are probably going to encounter a significant time difference (unless you're going to South Africa). What you'll need to do is start adjusting your basal timing by two hour intervals - depending on where you're going, you'll either need to do it two hours earlier or two hours later. Keep moving this every day as appropriate. You can then move your basal to be at a more convenient time for the time difference without compromising on your control.
For example, say I'm going to Thailand (6 hours ahead) and I do my basal at 8pm. That's 2am in Thailand, a bit impractical. So before I fly, I'll move it back to 6pm (12am), then 4pm (10pm). Then when I land in Thailand I can then do my next one at 8pm Thai time (2pm UK) and it's all good. As another note, pick a time zone and stick to it for the entire flight if you need to inject a basal while actually flying. Makes things much easier. And obviously, reverse the process for your flight back.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Good advice from DeusXM - I would just add that letters from DSNs are generally free whereas most GPs charge for it 🙂 Also, if you enquire, some airlines allow an extra hand luggage bag for medical supplies but best to check first rather than assume.
Phil65
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
You never know you might get a seat upgrade 😉
12 hours is a long flight, I increase my basal to 200% on long flights and increase my insulin carb ratio as well.....regularly testing during the flight. Don't worry about blue tooth on your machine as long as you don't use it on take off or landing. If you are going to go for the free extra piece of hand luggage make sure you print off the Ts and Cs....many of the airport staff are not aware of this 'perk'
Kim23
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Don't let diabetes run your life - you run it!
Personally I don't care who knows about my diabetes but I guess if your not 100% comfortable then you just have to be sensible. There is the discrimination act to protect people like us if work try to get rid of you because of it.
Personally I don't care who knows about my diabetes but I guess if your not 100% comfortable then you just have to be sensible. There is the discrimination act to protect people like us if work try to get rid of you because of it.
Thanks so much for everyone's replies. I wish I didn't have such a problem with people know I'm diabetic. Im 29 and have type 1 about 5 years now, but I'm still not comfortable with people knowing. I'm shy anyway so maybe that has something to do with it!
Robster65
Senior Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
As a teenager I was veyr self conscious and there were periods when I didn't share it with people I worked and socialised (employers were aware) with because I got fed up with having to explain firstly, what it is, then what it entails, and thirdly that, yes they would inject if they had to, and no, they wouldn't eat lots of sweets if made them feel ill.
I just wanted to get on with it and not have to educate the world. It was less well known back then but it's still not the most scintillating conversation piece when you have a busy life.
I used to end up feeling like a specimen on a microscope slide.
But I'm a lot more relaxed about it these days and am happy to tell or not tell according to the situation. It's just as embarrassing to have to eat jelly babies or swig coke as it is to announce it to the world. And you don't want to be in a situation where you're too shy to treat a hypo in front of people. That way disaster lies.😱
You'll get used to telling strangers eventually. 🙂
Rob
robofski
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I've only just started on insulin, and one of the first things I did was make sure my employer knew about it, I was concerned about having a hypo at work and no one knowing (4 weeks after starting insulin I've yet to have a normal reading let alone getting anywhere close to a hypo!)
I travel quite a bit for work and just got back from 2 weeks in the US, being new to it all, I just had a go at trying to get my insulin right, I like the advice from DeusXM and will try that approach for my next big trip, Singapore in 10 days.
I do my injections wherever I need to, on the plane, middle of a meeting, out to lunch, restaurant in the evening and I've been very surprised by the positive, supportive reactions I've had from my work colleagues (maybe I'm lucky to work with such a great bunch of people). I guess it does depend on the type of person you are. Getting everything ready is the pain, but I've found you can usually be very discret about the actual injection, i don't think the bloke on the plane next to me on Saturday noticed a thing!
Good luck with the new job and enjoy your trip away 🙂
Dan
I travel quite a bit for work and just got back from 2 weeks in the US, being new to it all, I just had a go at trying to get my insulin right, I like the advice from DeusXM and will try that approach for my next big trip, Singapore in 10 days.
I do my injections wherever I need to, on the plane, middle of a meeting, out to lunch, restaurant in the evening and I've been very surprised by the positive, supportive reactions I've had from my work colleagues (maybe I'm lucky to work with such a great bunch of people). I guess it does depend on the type of person you are. Getting everything ready is the pain, but I've found you can usually be very discret about the actual injection, i don't think the bloke on the plane next to me on Saturday noticed a thing!
Good luck with the new job and enjoy your trip away 🙂
Dan
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