Travel abroad with type 1

[Sinead]

Hi,
I am newly diagnosed type one and travelling to India in 3 weeks for a month. Does anyone have any travel advice? I have been looking into cool bags for insulin, small sharps boxes and getting a doctors letter to travel with everything i need. Am i missing anything vital?
Any travel advice would be great
Thank you

 

[Mini-Vicki]

I've never been to India, but the FRIO bags are amazing for keeping insulin cool. I know some here use thermos flasks filled with cool water and the insulin in... but I've never done that myself. Doctor's letter is important, some people have never been asked, but I have been asked to produce it several times. Make sure you have plenty of meds, and maybe a medic alert bracelet or necklace type thing, just in case. Also lots of glucose tabs, I go to Greece quite frequently, and it's very difficult to find jelly type sweets there.
Also be aware of how the hot weather may affect you, for me it makes my BGs go very high, for others it drops them.
Above all though... have fun!

 

[Mini-Vicki]

Oh and don't put any of your diabetes related stuff ESPECIALLY insulin in the hold of the plane. Keep it in your hand luggage. It could freeze in the hold and become unusable.

 

[Pigeon]

Calculate how much insulin, strips, needles etc you'll need then double it. Take spare pens. Don't leave a needle on your pens on the plane - I did this once and the pressure made half a cartridge leak out. Frio pouches are good. If you put your insulin in a hotel fridge make sure it doesn't freeze it. If you get a needle clipping device you can avoid the need for a sharps bin, and just keep your lancets in a bottle or something until you get back. Make sure you know the sick day rules in case you get a dodgy tum. Take lots of immodium, dioralyte, paracetaomol with you just in case. Oh, and have fun!

 

[trophywench]

I've kept insulin in a Frio in Goa for a fortnight twice and once in Kerala, NP !

It's only ALL the insulin itself that can't go in the hold - 'spare' anything else can though so what I've always done wherever we've been is keep 'more than sufficient for the length of the holiday' in the cabin with the other half (cos yes, always double or getting on for double) in the hold luggage on the basis that needles test strips sharps bins lancets and such won't suffer.

I always used re-usable pens and confess I've never owned a spare - this is the first time ever I've ever heard that suggested. Mind you - I was always virtually welded to my ones, same as I always still am and always will be to my meter (and with a spare in the suitcase in the hold on flights LOL)

Monsoon should be well over by now! Have a great time!

 

[SB2015]

As others have said, work out what you would normally need insulin wise and test strips and then double it.
You might need more, might need less, so just be prepared for changes.

I keep my insulin in a thermos whilst travelling. No water in there I just put the thermos in the fridge before we travel, then put vials and cartridges in it and seal. It keeps things cool in the journey. I then put that flask in the fridge at a hotel. If there are any oddities with the fridge it is less likely to ‘attack’ my insulin. Also if I haev no fridge in my room I personally put it into a fridge whee I have seen where it is going. A note is wrapped around the flask explaining what it is and not to move it, along with my room number.

I got a checklist from Accuchek for travels which is useful. There is also a list in DUK website. But to save you looking it up here it is
- insulin cartridges (doubled)
- insulin pens
- spare pen
- Ketostix
- spare test kit
- spare battery for test kit
- test strips (doubled and a few more)
- list of meds
- letter from GP hospital
- sick day rules

I also take an explanation of I have Type1diabetes ... translated into the language where I will be

Then I just go and have fun

Hope this helps

 

[Pigeon]

I always used re-usable pens and confess I've never owned a spare - this is the first time ever I've ever heard that suggested.

I always keep a spare in my toiletries bag when away. I once lost a pen on a beach (hole in my pocket, doh!) and so was glad of the spare, and the spare cartridge I had back at the house as well. Also I've heard of pens jamming. When I went to Canada for 3 weeks it seemed very wasteful to take so many cartridges with me, but I lost half of one on the plane due to the pressure (hence my advice not to leave a needle on! Insulin all over my bag....) then with North American portions and ice creams every day I got through most of the rest of my supplies too! It was baking hot as well and I didn't have a Frio pouch so I stressed about heat damage to the remaining insulin... hence now travelling with Frios as well.

 

[ypauly]

Some good advice on here already but I take what I need in my hand luggage and the same amount agin in my suit case.

I have never had any issues despite the difference of temperatures of the planes hold and cabin temperature, but then I have never been as far as india.

 

[HOBIE]

Hi,
I am newly diagnosed type one and travelling to India in 3 weeks for a month. Does anyone have any travel advice? I have been looking into cool bags for insulin, small sharps boxes and getting a doctors letter to travel with everything i need. Am i missing anything vital?
Any travel advice would be great
Thank you

Been to Asia on a motorbike, Russian boarder & others. As you said a Cool bag is good. Enjoy pls 🙂

 

[trophywench]

I do too Paul - but of course all the insulin is in the cabin baggage with me.

 

[Ann Liggins]

Keep all your meds with you in a separate bag ( it does not count towards your baggage allowance) , insulin has to be removed from the gel insulating pacs and put into clear bags during the security check, also oral gels . Take a px and a Dr's letter with you explaining what you carry and why . My bgl always goes up in hot climes, it just won't play ball !! Drink tons of water and enjoy !!