• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Going abroad

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
C

Cookiemonster2017

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi, I'm relatively knew to all of this!
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in February after being hospitalised with DKA for a few days but I'm sure I'm not the only one who has experienced this 🙂 I'm flying abroad to see family soon, I was just wondering if anyone has any advice or anything they find helpful which they'd like to share if that's ok as I've read different things. I don't have a pump, and I have asked for a medical letter with permission to carry insulin and needles with me. Also, are blood sugar levels affected by flying...? Sorry if these questions seem silly, but I'd just like to know! Sorry if I take a while to respond, but I'd be very grateful for any advice and I'll definitely read any responses! Thank you!
 
Hi and welcome cookie I've not flown abroad yet being diabetic so can't really help just wanted to welcome you onto the forum x whatever advice given have a safe trip and enjoy
 
Hello and welcome. This is a question that crops up from time to time, if you put 'holiday' into the search box at the top right of the screen, a list of threads will come up where there have been hints and tips too numerous to repeat here. Or start with this one
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/holiday.10682/
which is particularly comprehensive.
The main things are, insulin in hand luggage not in the hold ( and a good supply of other stuff like strips and needles) Get a Frio pouch or a steel flask to keep insulin cold. I've never had problems at security, and it's always gone quite smoothly. I don't find levels are affected by flying per se, but it can be more of a challenge to keep levels under control because you're not eating at normal times or what you normally eat, or just because your general stress levels are raised.
Anything else that occurs to you, please ask away.
 
Where are you going?

My insulin works quicker in warmer weather, and I find hypos are harder to track as one of my signs is feeling hot and sweaty (nice ha!)

No issues with the plane or the flying, apart from your emotions I suppose. I hate flying, scares me, so I get stressed which dosesnt help levels.

Take extra of your supplies, I take loads! Diabetes UK recommend double and i think JDRF say triple.

Take all your meds/supplies in your hand luggage and don't let it out of your sight.
 
Thank you Robin, sorry still new to the site I'll definitely have a look! Already got the friopacks, glad to hear plane flights don't affect much - fortunately it's a short one! 🙂

Phoebe C, I hadn't thought about that! Thank you for letting me know! Luckily (or unluckily) I seem to shake - hopefully I can keep on top of it! 🙂

Thank you everyone, finding this forum very helpful and welcoming, nice to be reminded there are others with the daily glucose dilemma :D
 
Most importantly if you are flying just dont inject untill you see what food the stewardess has put infront of you. Do a test when you see the food start to be passed around. You will be just fine all airport staff know exactly what T1 diabetics have in their cary on baggage just enjoy yourself.
 
Hadn't thought of that either! Apparently diabetic meals are available on some flights (since I'm still new to everything) but when we called to find out the advice was basically "don't eat the sugary bit":D thank you!
 
Cookiemonster2017 said:
Hadn't thought of that either! Apparently diabetic meals are available on some flights (since I'm still new to everything) but when we called to find out the advice was basically "don't eat the sugary bit":D thank you!
Click to expand...
I never go down the 'diabetic meal' route anywhere, on the grounds that somebody else's views of what I should be eating very rarely coincide with my own! I usually leave the potato and the roll, and enjoy the pudding.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top