DIABETES AND TRAVEL
Coping with holiday illness
If sickness or diarrhoea develops insulin or tablets should never be stopped even if solid foods cannot be tolerated.
Sick Day Rules for patients on Tablets
Sick Day Rules for patients on Insulin
- Carbohydrate intake should be maintained in the form of regular sugary drinks.
- Monitor blood glucose levels frequently.
- Urine should be tested for ketonuria as an early sign of decompensation.
- If sickness or diarrhoea persists medical advice should be sought.
Adjustment of insulin
Effect of Alcohol: Diabetes and alcohol
Feet care: Diabetes and looking after your feet.
Hypo: Having a hypo
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Insurance
Travel insurance is vital. Patients should inform the insurance company that they have diabetes and ensure that the insurance package provides adequate cover. This should include cover for emergency transport home and recovery of charges for replacement of insulin or equipment
Free or reduced cost emergency treatment is available in countries in the European Union . Form EIII is available at the Post Office.
Long Haul
If crossing time zones or travelling for many hours, specific advice regarding adjustments to insulin regimes can be obtained from the hospital team. Diabetes Specialist Nurses
Patients should bring along a flight schedule and information on time zone changes to help plan the timing of injections.
Travel to areas of high altitude can cause insulin to expand and contract, resulting in air pockets within the cartridge or pen. Patients may need to do a few "air shots" to make sure that there are no air bubbles present when they inject. Alternatively, the patient could revert to using a syringe and needle (it is possible to draw insulin out of a cartridge by this method).
Give advice on avoidance of DVT as for any other patient group.
Further Information
- Diabetes travel information www.diabetes-travel.co.uk
- Diabetes UK - Country guides are available www.diabetes.org.uk
- Diabetes UK Scotland Tel 0141 332 2700
- Diabetes UK Careline - A confidential information service for patients Tel 0845 1202960
- Diabetes UK Central Office Tel 0207 4241000 (London switchboard ask for careline)
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