Travel Tips

• Nov 13, 2023

If you are traveling by plane:

1. Tell airport security agents that you are traveling with diabetes medication and supplies. Let them know if you are wearing a continuous glucose monitor or pump
2. Never pack insulin or other medications in checked luggage. People with diabetes can carry more than 4 ounces of insulin and other liquid medications through airport security
3. Keep your insulin cool in an insulated bag with frozen gel packs
4. Let the flight attendants know you have diabetes
5. Drink plenty of water and limit the amount of alcohol you drink
6. Before you get on the place, ask if a meal or snack will be served. If no food will be served, bring or buy food to be eaten at the right time
7. Keep your diabetes supplies, emergency snacks, and glucose gel or tablets with you at your seat, not in the overhead bin
8. If you are on insulin, wait until you are about to eat food to give yourself an insulin shot to prevent low blood sugar
9. If you plan to inject insulin in the restroom, reserve an isle seat so that you can get to the bathroom easily
10. Do not inject air into the insulin bottle before pulling the insulin into the syringe, since the air on the plane is pressurized
11. You may need to adjust your insulin dose if you change time zones. Your healthcare provider will help you decide what changes you will need to make to your insulin dose or schedule

Other tips for traveling with diabetes:

• Tell people you are traveling with that you have diabetes
• If you travel to another country and use insulin bought there, it may have a different strength, and you will need to check the label and dose with your healthcare provider
• Check your blood sugar more often, including before and after all meals. Changes in your daily habits while you are traveling can affect your blood sugar
• Check your blood sugar before driving
• Do not leave your medicines in a car or near a window. They may get too hot or too cold
• Move around often so that you do not get a blood clot in your leg
• Do not go barefoot to avoid injury to your feet

Source: MKT0567