Travel - We tend to travel in the summer months. In many places, kids are out of school. City dwellers want to leave their hot concrete canyons. Warm weather makes beach, mountain, theme park, and everything in between seem more inviting.
Plan in advance to avoid stress. Make your reservations early, and if you need vaccinations, get those early, too. Be sure your airline, travel agency, or tour group knows about any special accommodations you might need (such as diabetic or low-fat meals).
It's a good idea for anyone to get a check-up before taking a trip, especially overseas. If you have diabetes, make visiting your health care provider part of your travel plans. Persons who take insulin or other medications will need to learn how to adjust their dosages for changes in activity, both mild and strenuous, and for crossing time zones. If you use syringes, have your doctor write a letter on his or her medical stationary saying so. You'll need to have this letter readily available on your trip, just in case.
Check with your health insurance provider to learn the proper procedure to follow if you become ill or need medical care away from home. Of course, you'll need to bring your insurance card with you. Also, keep your doctor's phone and fax numbers available.
If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, wearing medical identification jewelry is a good idea, especially if you're traveling alone. If you're with a group, be sure that at least one of the people with you knows about your medications and can recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar. Have a sugar source available at all times.
Be prepared. Pack enough diabetes supplies to last a week more than you intend to be gone. Always keep snacks available (for example, cheese, crackers, fruit or a sandwich) in case food is delayed. Keep all diabetes supplies with you- luggage is often lost or stolen, and many diabetes supplies can be destroyed by temperature extremes found in luggage compartments or the trunk of your car. Bring your own non-prescription medicines, such as allergy, motion sickness and anti-diarrheal medicine - you may not be able to find what you need at your destination. Have written prescriptions ready for all prescription medicines (if you're going to another country, try to get these in the language of the
