What you need to know when traveling domestically with someone with diabetes

article courtesy of MILLION MILE SECRETS

Diabetes currently affects 34.2 million Americans. That’s more than one in ten people in the U.S. The odds that either you or someone you love suffers from diabetes are alarming. Traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic has added another layer of stress to travelers.

Here are some tips on how to manage diabetes while you prepare for a trip and during your travels.

Travel with confidence as a diabetic

With finding cheap flights, reserving the best hotels, mapping out activities, and planning finances, it’s difficult enough to construct the perfect trip WITHOUT worrying about diabetes. Managing your own diabetes or that of a loved one’s can make it that much more overwhelming. A few of my family members have diabetes, and we’ve learned to construct our vacation plans around meals.

But there are ways to quiet stress and amplify excitement for your adventure.

Preparing for your trip

One cardinal step you can take to prepare for your trip is to research pharmacies in the area you plan to visit. If you’re already mapping out activities and places to visit, consider including the locations on your map. That way you’re not scrambling for the best options during an emergency.

Gather documentation

It’s true that we’re living in a non-paperwork era. But nothing can ever replace a proper doctor’s note.

This is especially applicable to seniors and children traveling alone. However, it can’t hurt to have a conversation with your doctor about any recommendations they would give for traveling with diabetes. You might have questions like:

Any vaccines you might need
If you should expect any unusual effects from your upcoming activities
If your insulin doses should be modified

Be sure to get the doctor’s appointment well ahead of time so there is no last-minute rush. You should also have a written prescription on your person. If you’re carrying syringes and/or insulin, it is important to carry documentation that the medication is for you specifically.

For an extra layer of protection, take a picture of the prescription and necessary documents with your phone. In the small chance your important documents get misplaced, you’ll still have a copy with you at all times.

Diabetes is considered a disability, so it is always a good idea to have documentation. And to be doubly prepared, keep in mind airport policies & accessibility options around the country.

Bring a schedule

As you’re traveling, be sure to consider time zones.

Because we are all prone to some level of jet lag, this can significantly affect daily routines, including eating and time of insulin injections. If you don’t establish a schedule, your journey can quickly railroaded with the potential fluctuation of blood sugar levels.

Pack healthy snacks

It’s vital to carry healthy snacks in case you or your travel buddy are running on low blood sugar. We all practice irregular eating habits when we travel, whether it be indulging in unhealthy food, drinking more than normal, or not getting enough water.

While in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, open restaurants and healthy snack options are few and far between. This makes it even more important to have snacks available at all times for those traveling with diabetes.

Eating out at a diabetes-friendly establishment isn’t always cheap, so bring and use your favorite restaurant rewards card to get the best bang for your buck on food purchases. It’s a nice way to get a return on the money you’d spend anyway.

You can also take control of your diet by packing your own food, including items you know are diabetes-friendly, like:

Cheese and crackers
Apples and peanut butter
Hard-boiled eggs
Trail mix
Beef sticks
Dried fruit
Yogurt

It’s good to mix a few non-perishables in there to ensure you’ve always have some sustenance in your back pocket. This can be the difference between an enjoyable adventure or an unfortunate trip to the hospital.

Hitting the road

With the ongoing pandemic, car travel may be the safest option for those traveling with diabetes. A crowded plane or airport can increase exposure to the virus, making this form of travel riskier than traveling by car.

Just as you go to the doctor’s for a check-up prior to a vacation, take your car for a check-up, too!

If you are planning to head out for a road trip, be sure to take your vehicle in for an inspection at least a week before you hit the highway. If there’s something wrong with your vehicle, you’re giving yourself a few buffer days between a potential problem and your vacation.

However, do consider renting a car. Sometimes it makes sense to pay for a cheap rental car and put the miles on a vehicle that’s not your own. And if you do decide to rent a car, be sure to explore all of your options when it comes to using a travel credit card for your car rental — many cards offer rental car insurance as a benefit, meaning you don’t have to pay for the pricey coverage the agency will try and sell you. Along with that, be sure to use a card that will give you the biggest return on gas purchases.

If you’ve got room, consider bringing extra medical supplies and snacks. If you’re making a long drive through parts of the country where medical access isn’t readily available, you’re obviously going to want as many fallback solutions as you can get. Bring enough food to account for low blood sugar, and pack a cooler for insulin in case you are traveling through high temperatures (not directly on ice, though!).

Lastly, driving can be extremely tiring. Whether you are driving or not, being cooped up in a car for hours on end is taxing. Taking frequent breaks will allow everyone to stretch, keep blood flowing and prevent fatigue.