One of the great things about getting older is having more time for travel. With a little planning, you can enjoy your trip and stay on top of your diabetes management.
Planning is important when you are travelling with diabetes. Changes in diet, physical activity, temperatures, and time zones can affect your blood glucose levels.
If you are travelling to a different time zone, talk to your health professional about the timing of your medications, especially insulin.
Diabetes can be covered under travel insurance. You will need to list diabetes as a pre-existing condition to ensure you are covered. Private health insurers may offer travel cover, but check with your provider.
Things to pack
During your trip
Planning to fly
Going on a cruise
Long road trips
Information and resources
If you are more active than usual, your blood glucose level could drop too low, so always carry a carbohydrate snack and water with you. Regularly check your feet for blisters, redness and swelling.
If you monitor your blood glucose levels, check them more frequently than you would at home. Make sure you store your medications correctly, and keep them out of direct sunlight.
Learn more about what to consider when travelling with diabetes.
Talk to your healthcare team well in advance of when you plan to fly. They can advise you on preparing for your trip. Make sure you follow airline security regulations for your medication and equipment.
If you have medicines that need refrigeration, check with your cruise line what is available to you. Many rooms will have a mini-fridge and others may have a fridge you can access 24 hours a day through room service. Make sure your insulin is not placed against the fridge wall as it may freeze.
If you use injectable medicines such as insulin, and do not have a sharps container, notify a staff member when you board and they will supply one for you.
Keep your insulin or other medications in a cooler bag with an ice brick or a pack specially designed for medication. Wrap ice bricks in a tea towel — do not place your insulin directly onto the ice. Keep your glucose monitoring equipment away from direct sunlight.
Research the route you plan to travel, such as the supermarkets available, places to stop and rest, NDSS pharmacies and where you can dispose of your sharps, if needed.
Stop and rest every two hours when you are driving. If you monitor your blood glucose levels, check them every two hours. Your blood glucose levels must be above 5 mmol/L to drive.
Driving and diabetes
Learn more about driving and diabetes and the steps you can take to ensure road safety.
Travel and diabetes
Learn more about travelling and diabetes and how to enjoy your travel and stay healthy.
Travelling by air
Learn more about flying and diabetes and how to prepare for your trip.
Diabetes Australia acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this Country. We recognise their connection to land, waters, winds and culture. We pay the upmost respect to them, their cultures and to their Elders, past and present. We are committed to improving health outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by diabetes and those at risk.
