By: Erika Kuno, RN
Before embarking on a trip, it’s a good idea to review our clinic’s travel guidelines for traveling with diabetes:
- If traveling through the airport, you may request a travel letter to carry through TSA.
- Make sure to pack ALL of your diabetes and pump supplies in your carry-on luggage. You will be able to bring needles/syringes through security. The storage underneath the plane isn’t temperature controlled, and there is always a possibility of lost luggage, so do not place supplies in checked luggage!
- Keep in mind to bring TWICE the amount of insulin and diabetes supplies needed to ensure you do not run out.
- If traveling somewhere warm, have a plan in place to keep extra insulin from overheating. Frio Packs are a great option to help keep insulin cool.
- If your child uses an insulin pump, you may want to contact the pump company for a loaner pump to bring along on your trip. Or, if a pump failure occurs, the pump company can often send a replacement pump overnight (if within the US). We also recommend you bring a hard copy of pump settings, back-up basal and bolus insulin, and syringes/pen needles in case of a potential pump failure.
- Consider testing BG more frequently while on vacation to help manage major changes in activity level and differences in food options.
- If traveling across more than two time zones, consider adjusting the time of administration for basal insulin.
- If disconnecting from the pump for long periods of time (swimming, amusement park rides, etc.) be sure to re-connect and bolus every two hours or consider restarting basal insulin (Lantus, Basaglar, etc.)-call the Diabetes Educators with questions!
Please reach out to the McNeely Diabetes Clinic with any specific travel questions. Safe travels!
