Having diabetes should not stop you travelling. But you'll need to prepare well for your trip to avoid any problems.
Before you travel
Before you travel overseas:
- make sure your travel insurance covers health problems related to your diabetes
- get your free European Health Insurance Card if travelling in the EU or Switzerland for state funded healthcare
- find out where you can get insulin in the place you're travelling to and bring a copy of your prescription
- speak to your care team for advice about adjusting to different time zones before you go
- get a letter from your GP if you're flying, to say you have diabetes and need to take your treatment on to the plane
- check with your airline before you travel about taking a pump or GCM on board – some airlines require paperwork for medical equipment
- make sure you know where you can get supplies for your pump in the places where you are visiting - if you are going to be away for a long time
Packing for your trip
When you're packing:
- pack 3 times as much insulin, test strips, lancets, needles and glucose tablets as you'd expect to need
- if you use a pump, pack insulin pens in case it stops working
- put insulin in your hand luggage – the hold of the plane will be too cold and could damage the insulin
- take a cool bag to stop your insulin getting too hot
- take plenty of snacks in case there are any delays
- do not put your pump through the hand luggage scanner – let airport security know so they can check it another way
While you're away
When you're away from home:
- be prepared to test more while you're away – hot and cold weather can affect your blood glucose levels and increase your risk of a hypo (low blood glucose level) or hyper (high blood glucose level)
- you may have to change your insulin dose depending on the temperature and different activities you're doing – speak to your diabetes team
