Traveling With Diabetes

Tips When You’re Travelling

• Follow your meal plan as much as possible when you eat out. Always carry a snack with you if you have low blood sugar or have to wait to be served.
• Limit your drinking of beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages. Generally, alcohol consumption should be limited to 1 drink for women and up to 2 drinks for men. Eat something when you drink to prevent low blood glucose.
• If you’re taking a long trip by car, check your blood glucose before driving. Stop and check your blood glucose every 2 hours. Always carry snacks like fruit, crackers, juice, or soft drinks in the car if your blood glucose drops too low.
• Bring food for meals and snacks with you if you’re traveling by plane.
• Carry your diabetes medicines and your blood testing supplies with you. Never put them in your checked baggage.
• Ask your health care team how to adjust your medicines, especially your insulin, if you’re traveling across time zones.
• Take comfortable, well-fitting shoes on vacation. You’ll probably be walking more than usual, so you should take good care of your feet.
• If you’re going to be away for a long time, ask your doctor for a written prescription for your diabetes medicines and supplies.
• Don’t count on buying extra supplies when traveling, especially if you’re going to another country. Different countries use different kinds of diabetes medicines.