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Travel Day Guidelines for Diabetes

Travel Day Guidelines for Diabetes:

Supplies	General recommendations
	When traveling by air, place all diabetes supplies in your carry-on luggage, preferably split between two bags. Pack into one bag all the supplies you will need in-flight until you reach your destination.
Insulin	When traveling overseas, insulin must be in your carry-on luggage and in pharmacy-labeled packaging (each box of 5 needs a separate lable). Store in a cool pack in your carry-on luggage, not in the aircraft hold. Don’t skip your insulin. Check availability of the insulin you use in the countries you plan to visit. Get aware about time zones, if applicable.Declare your medications and diabetes supplies on your immigration card and at security checkpoint.
Insulin Pen	Take spares.
Pen needles	Take more than you need for the trip, in the correct size.
Insulin pump (if used)	Declare your insulin pump at the security checkpoint and inform security staff that your pump must not be removed (reinforced by doctor’s letter)
Insulin pump	Take spares; inserter, lines, alco, wipes.
Blood glucose meter	Take a spare meter plus batteries.
Blood glucose strips	When traveling overseas, check availability of strips in the countries you plan to visit. Remember that you may need to test more often in –flight.
Lancets	Take extras.
Fingerpricker	Take a spare
Ketone Strips	Ensure strips are in date before departure.
Batteries	Take spares for meter and (if used ) insulin pump.
Sharps container	Take travel-size container with lid. Contact relevant diabetes association/s before departure ask for local sharps disposal services (Note: some airports/aircrafts provide sharps containers).
Glucagon	Check expiry date Must be packed in carry-on luggage and in pharmacy-labeled packaging.
Doctor’s letter	Make sure the letter is type and therefore readable. Keep several copies with your travel documents and present at security checkpoint if necessary. The letter should outline your medical condition/s, the insulin (and frequency of dosage) you take, devices used, the importance of carrying medication/s with you and that your insulin pump (if used) must not be removed. Consider whether the letter needs to be translated into the language/s of your travel destination/s
Extra prescriptions	Contact the relevant association (IDF website www.idf.org) to check if the insulin you use is available at your travel destination – particularly important if you are going there to live or to stay for an extended time
Vaccinations	Check relevant requirements well in advance
Identification	Keep Diabetes Identity Card. Specify if you use an insulin pump.
Hypo kit	Take hypo kit containing quick acting carbohydrate such as juice tetrapak/jelly beans/muesli bar/biscuits/ Glucose Powder.
Carbohydrate snacks	Pack carbohydrate containing snacks in carry-on luggage.
Airline meals	There is no need to order ‘diabetic’ meals. If insufficient carbohydrate is served with your meal, ask for extra carbohydrate or use your packed carbohydrate snacks
Cool pack	Take a cool pack in your carry-on luggage to store insulin.
Clock/watch	Take two watches–one set on ‘departure’ time and one set on ‘destination’ time
Sick day management	Keep ‘Ketone strips’. Take sick day kit and management guidelines (talk to your diabetes educator)
Contact details	Take phone and email details of your doctor, diabetes educator and (if relevant) insulin pump company. Consider making contact before departure with an diabetologist, endocrinologist at your travel destination
First Aid kit	Stock kit with basic first aid items such as bandaids, antiseptic, thermometer, sunscreen etc