Tag: airport

Air travel is commonplace. Maybe not as common as driving, but nonetheless very popular. And fairly inexpensive, especially if you are traveling alone. I’ve recently been contemplating a trip to visit family in Washington (state, not DC) for Thanksgiving. If it were just me, it would be cheaper to fly. Even for two, the additional expense would probably be worth it, if only for the convenience of a relatively short flight time when compared to driving time of about 12 hours.

But whatever your reasons for flying – business, pleasure, funeral, etc. – there are some essential precautions you need to take to avoid diabetic complications. Bear in mind that these are only general guidelines, and be sure to consult your doctor if in any doubt. Here are my top three recommendations,

Carry a letter from your doctor. This is not essential, but should help smooth the way for you when going through airport security. make sure the letter states your need to carry insulin, syringes, test strips, and any other supplies you may need. Along the same lines, make sure that you carry pill bottles and insulin vials which include pharmacy labels. This is not essential, but can avoid a lot of questions. Not that you would have anything to hide, but air travel is stressful enough as it is, so any way of reducing the stress should be looked for.

Plan your meals. Most airlines will allow you to pick a meal suited to your health needs. Request a diabetes-friendly meal, such as vegetarian. If you don’t like the idea of airline food, bring some with you – but be prepared to purchase any liquids in the airport after you have cleared security.

Keep your diabetes supplies in your carry-on, and bring more than you think you will need for the trip. The low temperatures in the cargo hold at 30,000+ feet are bad for your insulin. Even if you do not use insulin, you do not want to risk having no supplies with you in the event of a lost (more likely delayed) bag. The safest way to be sure that your supplies arrive at the destination with you is to have them with you at all times during your travel.

There are many other considerations. Click this link for some diabetes-related travel hacks. Or here for a fact sheet from the American Diabetes Association, and some advice from WebMD.