| Going on holiday should be a time of rest and | | | | adjusted in order to allow for all the possible changes |
| relaxation, a time to get away from the daily routine, | | | | due to the holiday. He or she will also be able to give |
| a time to enjoy new things. Being diabetic should not | | | | advice on what to do in case of holiday 'bugs' such |
| prevent anyone from having a good time provided | | | | as diarrhoea and or sickness. |
| that they have planned ahead. In general, such | | | | What to take with you |
| planning is very much based upon a mixture of | | | | • Take at least twice as much medication, |
| common sense and experience. For instance: a | | | | syringes, pens, needles etc as you would normally |
| diabetic who spend 50 weeks of the year sat behind | | | | require - just in case! |
| a desk operating a computer and answering the | | | | • If you are travelling with a companion split your |
| phone would find 2 weeks climbing in the Himalayas a | | | | medication between the 2 of you – just in case. |
| little different and so will need to think about | | | | Ensure that your medication is in your hand luggage |
| changing their control regime! | | | | BUT check with the airline about the rules concerning |
| The planning process | | | | syringes etc as the bulk of these may have to go 'in |
| • Split the holiday into 3 sections i.e. the outward | | | | the hold'. |
| journey, the 'holiday' itself, and the return journey | | | | • If you are going abroad, ensure that, along with |
| including a few days after getting back home. | | | | your 'normal' holiday paperwork you have a letter |
| • For each section think about what food will be | | | | from your doctor or diabetic advisor confirming your |
| available and when? Will the food be different to | | | | medical condition and that you need to carry syringes |
| what you are used to? Will it be easy to obtain whilst | | | | etc. |
| you are travelling? How will you assess the | | | | • A basic first aid kit. |
| carbohydrate content of 'new' foods? | | | | • Your blood monitoring equipment including a |
| • What activities will you be involved in during the | | | | spare battery - just in case! |
| 3 sections? Will you be more or less active than | | | | • A cool bag for storing your insulin. |
| usual? | | | | • Your diabetic identity card or jewellery. Plenty of |
| • Are all of your documents up-to-date and will | | | | glucose tablets or whatever sweets etc you carry - |
| they still be valid whilst you are away. For example: if | | | | just in case! |
| you intend to drive whilst on holiday does your | | | | • A supply of carbohydrate in your hand luggage |
| insurance cover you to drive abroad? Does your | | | | just in case there is an hold-up, delay etc and you |
| diabetes affect whether you can use a 'hire car' or | | | | cannot find anywhere to get a meal at the |
| not even if it part of the holiday package that you | | | | appropriate time. |
| are buying? Does your holiday insurance provide you | | | | • A list of your medication and the appropriate |
| with the correct level of cover - are you certain that | | | | dosage - just in case you are unable to explain to |
| you have fully informed the insurance company of | | | | someone yourself as to what you take and when. |
| your medical condition and so you have the 'correct' | | | | Unusually 'things' to be aware of |
| cover? | | | | • Insulin may be absorbed quicker in warmer |
| • Are there going to be any issues relating to | | | | climates which might affect your blood sugar balance. |
| your medication? Not all types of insulin are available | | | | As such, more regular blood sugar monitoring at the |
| worldwide; even those that are common in most | | | | start of the holiday is recommended to ensure that |
| countries are not always available in the same | | | | you can adjust your dosage accordingly. Do not |
| strengths and so will require differing syringes. Insulin | | | | forget to check the situation again when you get |
| is sensitive to temperature variations and so how are | | | | home. |
| you going to try to keep it from getting too hot or | | | | • A change in altitude, as you go up and down |
| too cold? Not all aircraft have heated luggage | | | | mountains, can cause air bubbles to form within the |
| sections and so it is vital that when travelling by air | | | | cartridges used in 'insulin pens' and so care must be |
| insulin MUST be carried in the in-flight hand luggage. | | | | taken not to allow any air bubbles formed to |
| • Are your vaccinations up-to-date? Certain | | | | adversely affect any injection. |
| vaccinations can have mild side-effects which could | | | | • Altitude, heat and humidity might affect blood |
| make you feel a little 'of-colour' and so it would be | | | | sugar monitoring equipment and so you need to be |
| better to have them done earlier than later! The | | | | aware of the possibility of a false reading! |
| most obvious place to go for advice and guidance is | | | | • In cold regions you may well shiver more than |
| the diabetic advisor (GP, Diabetic Clinic or whoever | | | | usual - shivering uses up energy and so can lower |
| the diabetic normally sees), who will be able to help | | | | your blood sugar levels! |
| work out how medication and/or diet will have to be | | | | |