Foreign Holiday

[Type1kev]

Hi All,

In June I will be going on my first foreign Holiday as a Type 1!

Can anyone offer any advice on things to avoid or things I should make sure that I prep for?? I am going to Greece for 2 weeks and whilst I'm there I will be best man at a wedding! So needless to say it?s going to be pretty full on!!

Thanks in advance for any tips 🙂

 

[ch1ps]

I would say get a letter from GP, consultant or DSN to say you need to carry sharps through the x-ray machines. It's a bog standard letter.

Take more supplies than you would usually use at home. Just in case you lose some etc.

Get good medical insurance if going out of EU and even if in EU get good insurance in case you want to come home to be treated if needs be.

You might need to adjust your levels in the heat as you may use less insulin, play it by ear, test loads if you need to.

Most of all have fun! 🙂

 

[Type1kev]

Thanks for the advice ch1ps 🙂

I will be testing pretty often as I shall be having the odd Greek beer and late night! 🙂

I have gone for the more expensive insurance cover just in case!! Normally I settle for the cover that costs 50p!lol

 

[Lauras87]

take a copy of your prescription with the letter from your doctor

carry some supplies on you incase your case is lost & i also try & give some to a family member or friend as a back up

but have a nice time 🙂

 

[Type1kev]

Ye thats a good point! Would be a nightmare if my bags didnt make it onto the plane!!

I have read that insuline shouldnt go in the hold of the plane as it may freeze!! So I will be taking that in my hand luggage also! 🙂

Thanks for the advice 😉

 

[Cleo]

Greece - sounds lovely !
Try to remember to drink plenty of water....sounds very boring I know, but the combination of alcohol + sun + T1 is not a good one (trust me I speak from experience....). Can you get a back up meter just in case your existing meter decides not to work?. I'm going on my honeymoon in June and called Roche customer service (I have an accu check aviva nano) and they put a spare one in the post for free, plus extra batteries. Make sure you dont go hypo during the ceremony ! so take plenty of hypo treatment with you esp. so you dont have to faff around in greek super markets once you get there...
And take extras of everything + a note from your GP for airport security.

And.......have a great time!!

 

[Dory]

all the above but one other thing to make sure you have sorted.....

the speech!! 😉

but yes, a letter from your doc saying you are Type 1, need to carry XYZ meds and need ot take them on board with you. You should also get in touch with the airline to let them know you will be carrying insulin in your handluggage (the CAA regulations permit diabetics to cary an extra piece of hand luggage for medical equipment).

greece is only 2 hours ahead of UK so you won't need to phase your dosage times but if you're on a pump remember to change the clock on it when you land 🙂

 

[Type1kev]

Greece - sounds lovely !
Try to remember to drink plenty of water....sounds very boring I know, but the combination of alcohol + sun + T1 is not a good one (trust me I speak from experience....). Can you get a back up meter just in case your existing meter decides not to work?. I'm going on my honeymoon in June and called Roche customer service (I have an accu check aviva nano) and they put a spare one in the post for free, plus extra batteries. Make sure you dont go hypo during the ceremony ! so take plenty of hypo treatment with you esp. so you dont have to faff around in greek super markets once you get there...
And take extras of everything + a note from your GP for airport security.

And.......have a great time!!

Thats a great point on getting a spare monitor!! I will get on to that!! 🙂

I have a Hypo kit on me at all times so that base is covered. Sooo much to consider isnt there!!😱

Thanks for the advice and hope you have a great honeymoon 🙂

 

[Type1kev]

all the above but one other thing to make sure you have sorted.....

the speech!! 😉

but yes, a letter from your doc saying you are Type 1, need to carry XYZ meds and need ot take them on board with you. You should also get in touch with the airline to let them know you will be carrying insulin in your handluggage (the CAA regulations permit diabetics to cary an extra piece of hand luggage for medical equipment).

greece is only 2 hours ahead of UK so you won't need to phase your dosage times but if you're on a pump remember to change the clock on it when you land 🙂

Oh ye the speech!I had forgotton about that!! I may just fake a hypo to get out of doing it!! haha

I will call the Airline and let them know. Its handy to know they give us betics a bit more luggage allowance! I think I'm gonna need it! extra 10kg should do it!!!lol 🙂

 

[Aoife]

The advice about the heat is a good one, I usually need less insulin when it's hot plus you may find that your activity levels are different (how many times in the good old uk do you go for a few dips in the pool every day!)

Also keep an eye on what you are eating, some "lite" drinks still contain sugar, just less unlike our "diet" sugar free versions over here also often fruit juice seems to be sweetened further.

Have a fab time!

 

[Redkite]

Hi All,

In June I will be going on my first foreign Holiday as a Type 1!

Can anyone offer any advice on things to avoid or things I should make sure that I prep for?? I am going to Greece for 2 weeks and whilst I'm there I will be best man at a wedding! So needless to say it?s going to be pretty full on!!

Thanks in advance for any tips 🙂

Hi Kev, I've only skimmed through the replies but don't think anyone's mentioned keeping your insulin cool. We use Frio pouches when travelling to hot climates. Also, I'd make sure you have some diabetes ID on you so that in the event of a hypo people don't assume you're just a bit worse for drink! Have a great time 🙂

 

[Cleo]

Thats a great point on getting a spare monitor!! I will get on to that!! 🙂

I have a Hypo kit on me at all times so that base is covered. Sooo much to consider isnt there!!😱

Thanks for the advice and hope you have a great honeymoon 🙂

My meter has never let me down when I've been on holiday but best not to take any chances !...

Have fun at the wedding 🙂

 

[tracey w]

I am on holiday now, yay! But must admit the first time i was a bit worried. As everyone has said take plenty of supplies' i use a fri pouch to keep insulin cool and check the hotel has a fridge in your room, they will usually supply one if you ask beforehand. I keep all my supplies in hand luggage dont risk losing anything.

Test often i find i dont need to adjust anything but im on a pump. The only difference i found this time at manchester airport they made me take pump out and hold in my hand where they swabbed it they also took my insulin supples and swabbed them too.

Most of all just enjoy your holiday remember diabetes doesnt stop you doing anything we just have to work a bit harder to look after ourselves 🙂

 

[Copepod]

As well as insurance, which you've got covered, you should also take a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), as most insurance companies expect you to use the services provided free to all EU residents and won't pay for what you could have got free or at reduced price. Yes, I know Greece is in a bad way, including health services, but still important. Make sure you don't use a website which charges you to obtain EHIC, as the NHS one is free.

Personally, I prefer keeping insulin in a cheap stainless steel vaccuum flask, which I had long before I got type 1 diabetes, so was cheaper than buying a Frio pouch, and is cheaper even now to buy a new one than a Frio pouch. As well as being cheaper, a flask protects insulin cartridges against physical knocks, vibration etc. You'll have to fill it with cool water to travel to airport, then empty out water before going through security, then refill with fresh cool tap water once you're through.

As others have said, carry a letter to explain why you need to keep medication, testing kit etc in your hand luggage. Ideally get your hospital consultant or specialist nurse to write one that you can use for this trip and many future ones, as GPs tend to charge up to around ?30 for such a document. Make a few photocopies and keep one permanently with your passport & EHIC, so you don't have to think about it in future.

I'd be more worried about going to a wedding (I hate weddings, due to dressing up and unpredictable food & drink) and giving a speech (haven't had to give a wedding speech) than going to Greece - enjoy your trip 🙂

 

[DeusXM]

Another useful tip is to learn a few basic words - these can be really useful when reading packets or asking for things.

The Greek phrase for sugar-free/without sugar is χωρίς ζάχαρη (roughly pronounced Hoo-ru ZACH-arr-ee), while sugar is ζάχαρη/ΖΑΧΑΡΗ (pronounced ZACH-arr-ee). Meanwhile, diabetes is actually the same word.

 

[Redkite]

Another useful tip is to learn a few basic words - these can be really useful when reading packets or asking for things.

The Greek phrase for sugar-free/without sugar is χωρίς ζάχαρη (roughly pronounced Hoo-ru ZACH-arr-ee), while sugar is ζάχαρη/ΖΑΧΑΡΗ (pronounced ZACH-arr-ee). Meanwhile, diabetes is actually the same word.

I did know diabetes was Greek in origin, but so does the word saccharin come from Greek then?

 

[Highlander]

My wife and I are just back from a trip to Malta. Although we are both type 2 we are both on quite a lot of medication. The advice we were given a few years ago, by a diabetic security officer, was to keep all meds in their original boxes as supplied by pharmacy and to keep the meds in a separate plastic bag in our hand luggage. Then when you go through security, we take the plastic bag out of our hand luggage and put it in the tray. This avoids any problems, most of the time. On one trip, my meds went through the x-ray OK but my wife had her bag screened, sniffed with a sniffer wand and all the boxes checked, this despite having a letter and a copy of our prescription. Since taking the pills out of our hand luggage, we have not had a problem. Even with bottles of GTN spray for angina.

Have a good trip and don't forget the speech. Take plenty of dextrose for emergency use.

 

[delb t]

For us
and yup we do all of the above -the key thing has been the heat and how that effects my teenage son.I would/well we always do meet with DSN before the hols to discuss change to mealtime ratios and night time injection dose .we start that the day we get there.-we also do a quick google search for local medical facilities( ones that take EHIC etc]
I remember they suggested a different ratio too for the breakfast dose as the flight was at silly o'clock in the morning
Above all -Have a fab time

 

[pippaandben]

Also take spare pens/cartrdiges just in case - I managed to break the plunger when changing cartridges on mine as it would not retract!! Plus lots of needles as you may be injecting more as weddings can be long and drawn out regarding eating so may need to inject in increments. A needle clipper is also essential (they hold 1500) . I put one collection of diabetes "stuff" all in one smaller shoulder bag including frio bag, spare pens and spare needles and extra hypo material in hold luggage.
With me heat sends my blood sugar up but the effect doesn't really show til second week and then when I get home it takes about 5 days to normalise. Mr D not playing by the rules yet again!!

I also contacted my insulin maker to find out if available in the country 1 am travelling to and what it is called there. They might be able to email you the greek version of the name.

Most important;y have FUN.

 

[Type1kev]

Thanks for all the replies and support Guys, Very much appreciated!

I am glad I asked the question as there has been some very good advice. I havent had Diabetes long and getting to grips with it in this cold and miserable country is proving hard enough! 🙂 lol

I will be sure to have a good time and will let you know how I get on!