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First holiday as a diabetic!

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D_G

D_G

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Well its finally booked! a week in magaluf leaving in just under 4 weeks!! :D

So i know i need to have a letter from my doctor but is there any other info or tips you lovely people can give me? do certain things need to go in the hold? or can it all be hand luggage?

I think i will have to get some of those fri bags too? as it will be hitting 30 degrees!! or maybe i can just leave my insulin in my room?

I hope my skin starts to clear up soon too as thats the other worry! (those of you who dont know i suffer with psoriasis) really bad on my legs this year and havent been able to show them in daytimes :( have been reffered to the derm finally! appointment not till september tho 😡

Just got to get my bikini body now lol shudnt be too hard as i am broke and no money to eat lol! 😉
 
Best to ask your clinic DSN for a letter, as most GPs charge to write one. Best to have one that will be suitable for many trips, not specific to one.

Get a EHIC - see http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx and do not use one of the websites that charge for something that is free.

Find suitable insurance and make sure your declare your diabetes and treatment to company. Most don't charge any extra, so if a company wants to, I prefer to find an alternative.

All diabetes related kit should be in hand luggage, as aircraft holds can get too cold and luggage can be lost. I have never bothered with Frio bags, even for expeditions lasting several months in tropical Latin America, and have always been able to keep insulin cool enough, but keeping it out of direct sunlight - most say room temp is up to 30oC and that insulin can be kept at room temp for 28 days, so a week in Spain should be no bother. However, I always take spares - at least an extra cartridge of each type and some excess of testing strips.

Hope the UVB of sunlight helps your psoriasis, as it does for many people.
 
Get a EHIC - see http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx and do not use one of the websites that charge for something that is free.

Funnily enuf thats what the travel agent said and i was suprised to pull one out of my purse! its been there for ages and i dont think i even knew i had it lol so thats sorted 🙂

Find suitable insurance and make sure your declare your diabetes and treatment to company. Most don't charge any extra, so if a company wants to, I prefer to find an alternative.

I booked with the standard insurance with thomson and was told to go to mymedicalscreening which i did and have been quoted 11 quid is that a good price?

All diabetes related kit should be in hand luggage, as aircraft holds can get too cold and luggage can be lost. I have never bothered with Frio bags, even for expeditions lasting several months in tropical Latin America, and have always been able to keep insulin cool enough, but keeping it out of direct sunlight - most say room temp is up to 30oC and that insulin can be kept at room temp for 28 days, so a week in Spain should be no bother. However, I always take spares - at least an extra cartridge of each type and some excess of testing strips.

Thanks i did wonder, i take it i can have spare needles and strips in the hold though? yea i will take extras of everything, im really nervous as its my first hol as a diabetic 😱

Hope the UVB of sunlight helps your psoriasis, as it does for many people.[/QUOTE]

Thanks but im not brave enuf to even show them yet :( hope it clears up a bit before i go
 
Can't really add much to what's already been said, except taking a copy of a current prescription is useful too just in case anything unexpected happens to your supplies. Other than that hope you have a great holiday 🙂
 
Have a great holiday :D Our DSN has a standard letter she prints for anyone who is flying etc. It seems to cover all the basics. Haven't used one yet, but maybe I'll make use of one towards the end of the year. You might have some good tips when you come back. Enjoy 😎
 
Short and sweet but have a lovely holiday Nikki
 
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Have a fab time! And do take *lots* of spare insulin. (you may well be eating more/more carbily than when at home and I know from experience that it can be annoying/troublesome to be 1 cart short!) Most likely you'll be able to keep it cool enough in your accommodation - be cautious of fridge/minibar until you know that it won't freeze water etc. Bound to be fine, but you wouldn't want to find out the hard way 😱
 
Sunshine is THE best thing for psoriasis, honestly!

Take twice as much of all your supplies, as you ought to need.

NB you may need less insulin in the heat, so don't go anywhere without your hypo remedy, I've had holidays when I haven't had to bolus until dinner! Mind you if you only totter onto the beach and don't move all day, you probably won't need less!

Fab soft sand beach which gently shelves into a warm - but salty, bath! - very conducive to wanting to chuck yourself in it, even if you don't swim much. Oh and the salt water will also do wonders for your skin; you can always 'casually' throw a light pareo/sarong across your legs whilst on your lounger if you want to.

Have an utterly fab time!
 
D_G said:
, i take it i can have spare needles and strips in the hold though? yea i will take extras of everything, im really nervous as its my first hol as a diabetic 😱
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I've recently started using insulin and was quite nervous on my first trip overseas but it really was no bother having all my supplies in my hand luggage. First time through security I mentioned I had I insulin and needles, they weren't bothered in the slightest and I've not mentioned it since and been through airport security 14 times in the last 2 months in 8 different airports with no problems they really are very used to it. Whilst the hold won't do your needles and strips any harm, the prospect of them not arriving is enough to make sure I always carry my requirements for the whole trip in my hand luggage.

Hope you have a fab time, I could really do with a holiday!
 
Have a wonderful holiday🙂
 
Hi, have a great holiday - have just read through answers and all good - I went to Kenya a number of times and did find the Frio bags useful - it just kept the insulin at a standard temp, provided a certain amount of protection in the way of padding when moving around and removed one worry (insulin overheated) if blood result a bit wayward. I find I go high when travelling - stress? Also don't get de-hydrated.

Never any probs at airports - I mentioned it once (first trip!) and flapped my letter at them.

Again - have a great time.
 
Thanks everyone! really appreciate the responses 🙂


The sun does help i know 🙂 ironically i dont want to get them out in the sun haha and i like the sarong idea, thanks for that!

3 weeks friday! Its nice to have something to look forward to even if i am flat broke 🙂😎
 
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