Diabetes and Travel - Carry A Doctor's Note

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 16 June 2014
Wing of an aeroplane indicating Air Travel

Despite being insulin-dependent, Jayesh Shah (54) continues to globe-trot for work. All it needs is a little extra planning, he says. Here, he shares his top tips for travelling safely with diabetes. 

• Carry the doctor’s prescription with you

• Inform airport security that you are a diabetic

• When travelling across time zones, adjust your medication and food intake as per the time zone that you are currently in

• Do not skip any meals; over eating is better than fasting, especially during long layovers at airports and missed flights, to avoid possibility of low sugar

• Aisle seats help, especially if you need to use the washroom frequently; if travelling by road try and map out the distance between convenience stops

• Inform the flight attendants / fellow travellers about your diabetes condition if you are travelling alone

• Carry some snacks, candies, etc, in case your sugar drops 

• If possible, check out the carbohydrate content and glycaemic index of the local cuisine

• Be careful about alcohol intake as this can cause fluctuations in blood sugar

• Do not feel shy to inform people around you, especially your co-workers, that you have diabetes

• If you are on insulin pump, and your time zone changes, adjust the clock gradually

• Do not skip your exercise routine

Diabetes related supplies are allowed on the plane. One can carry:

• Insulin & insulin pens, alcohol swabs and unlimited numbers of unused syringes

• Blood glucose meters, test strips and lancets 

• Liquids (including water, juice, or liquid nutrition); you may face a challenge in explaining this to the security officers, but it is important to do so, especially on long-haul flights. 

Carry a doctor’s note describing your condition and the need for carrying liquids.

Community
Diabetes
Condition
Diabetes
Changed
Wed, 07/10/2019 - 19:05

Stories

  • The Importance of Electrolyte Balance - Sodium
    This time in our Health by Numbers/Medical Tests series, Dr Shital Patel takes a look at our electrolyte levels in our blood. An electrolyte imbalance, commonly caused by loss of body fluids through prolonged vomiting, diarrhoea, sweating or high fever, can result in various health disorders, like restlessness, anxiety, kidney diseases or even cardiac arrest. An Electrolyte Panel is a blood test that measures the common minerals in the body such as sodium, calcium, chloride, magnesium,…
  • Physical Activity and Exercise Can Help Keep Mental Illness in Control
    Exercise and yoga can improve quality of life for people with mental illness and reduce risks of strokes, diabetes, auditory hallucinations and other health problems, informs Dr R Padmavati, Additional Director, Schizophrenia Research Foundation. World Health Organisation defines physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical activity is not just "exercise". Exercise, is a subcategory of physical activity that is planned,…
  • 7 Common Questions on Diabetes Diet Answered
    Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi of Poshan - Cure thru Diet addresses some common concerns about Type 2 diabetes 1. With summer upon us, we cannot ignore mangoes. Can a person with Type 2 Diabetes have mangoes, and if so, how many a day? This is also a very frequently asked question, specially from the mango lovers. If you are fantasising about mangoes, the basic advice is to eat in moderation. First you should check the blood sugar. If blood sugar is around 6.5, then u can have a piece of mango. But…
  • What does NAFLD mean for people with diabetes or hypertension?
    WORLD LIVER DAY Did you know Type 2 diabetes (T2D), insulin resistance, obesity, metabolic syndrome and NAFLD (Non Alchoholic Fatty Liver Disease) are particularly closely related? Dr Parijat Gupte, Consultant Hepatologist or Liver Specialist, provides us with a basic knowledge on NAFLD and what it can signify. What Is NAFLD? In simple terms, NAFLD or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is abnormal or excess accumulation of fat in the liver. Normally, liver does not contain more than 0-5% fat.…
  • 15 Important Facts you should know about Depression
    The theme of the World Health Day 2017 is ‘Depression: Let’s Talk’. Encourage people with depression to talk about their feelings. Depression can easily be treated with psychological therapies and medicines. Learn about these and some other basic information on depression issued in public interest by SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation). The wounds of depression are unseen, but they hurt more than the ones that bleed. Seek professional help and get better. Facts about Depression…
  • 10 Tips for Better Sleep
    Millions of people round the world are chronic users of sleeping pills or other intoxicants to rest each night increasing the risk of death and poor health. Dr A Banerjee, Director Sleep Medicine and Research Center at MGM Institute of Health Sciences emphasizes the importance of good sleep to regenerate the body’s mechanisms and ward off diseases like diabetes, hypertension and bipolar disorder. #WorldSleepDay Sleep is essential for a healthy life. Every person requires the right amount…
  • Catch our FB live Q&A event on the Diabetic Diet
    Don't miss our FB live event with dietitian and Diabetes Educator Ujjwala Baxi on Thursday 02nd March 2017 4pm IST, 6.30pm SGT. Get your questions and join the FB live event tomorrow
  • The Highs and Lows of an LCHF diet
    Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi explains the risks of the Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) diet if precautions are not taken, even though it has often yielded amazing results of weight loss Diet trends have undergone a steady transformation over the years, all the way from low fat diet to high protein ones. And in the last 11 years, the idea of reversing and consuming a low carbohydrate diet by increasing the fat consumption has been making waves. Ketogenic diet, Atkins diet and recently the LCHF diets…
  • Time to Bust some Insulin Myths and Fears
    Bhavya Munjal, Clinical Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Educator at Fortis CDOC (Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic diseases & Endocrinology) debunks 12 prevailing myths about insulin used to treat type 2 diabetes. Insulin is the most misunderstood drug. Many patients with type 2 diabetes avoid it and some accuse it of causing diabetic complications. Yet insulin is one of the best treatments available for keeping blood glucose levels in target range. For people who have…
  • White Meat vs Red Meat: Which is Healthier?
    Is it true that red meat should be avoided, while white meat encouraged? Bonnie Lau, an Australian-trained dietitian, counselling patients on GlycoLeap, answers. Here, we compare the pros and cons of both and helps you decide which type of meat you should eat in the future. Meat is a great source of protein and lots of vitamins and minerals. But there are claims that red meat (mutton, lamb, beef, pork) should generally be avoided, while white meat (chicken, duck, fish) is encouraged. We look at…