When someone has an ongoing illness vacation travel plans or travel for any reason have to be approached with much forethought. Traveling with diabetes is no exception. Strategic planning must be done before leaving for the trip, as well as during the trip. It is strongly recommended that you discuss your travel plans with your health care team so that they can make recommendations that will insure you are protected while away from home. These might include locating or recommending, when possible, a medical team or facility in the area to which you are traveling as well as specific things to do and extra supplies to take with you when you travel.

Diabetes is affected by many external as well as internal factors and it is amazing the effect these can have on blood sugar levels. Let’s examine some of these factors.

1) Changes in activity: It is generally understood that being physically active is beneficial for lowering your blood sugar or glucose levels. It also improves the ability of your body to absorb and use insulin. On the other hand, some types of activities can have a negative effect on your glucose levels. For example, if you decide to go on a hiking trip over hilly countryside while carrying heavy bags, you might want to discuss this with your doctor first. Lifting heavy weights and taking long walks over rough terrain could increase the pressure in the blood vessels in your eyes and make diabetic complications to your eyes worse. You could also develop blisters to your feet, and if these are not treated promptly they can result in complications. Unfortunately what started out as minor foot concerns for many diabetics have led to amputations.

2) Immunization shots: Usually these shots have very little adverse effects on a non-diabetic patient. However, like any other medicines or food that can have an effect, they can disturb your blood sugar levels. You doctor or health team may recommend that you schedule immunization shots a few weeks, as much as four weeks, before you’re ready to travel. The goal is to start your trip with your glucose levels as normal as possible.

3) Changes in Time Zones: For patients who are on medication, this is an area that has to be calculated carefully and is best documented for proper self-management since you could leave one area at 1:00 p.m. and arrive in another part of the world at 7:00 a.m. In additional, proper rest must be a part of diabetes management.

In large numbers patients are finding that they have been able to reduce the effects of diabetes and control the disease. However, if your diabetes is at a level that you are insulin dependent, traveling can still be fun but strategic planning must be implemented so that if medical attention is needed, you can receive it promptly.

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