Holidays / Travelling abroad
Going away on your first holiday after diagnosis is daunting. There are so many things to remember to pack. The list below can help you. If you have further suggestions to improve this page please email hello@type1diabetestips.com
Going away in the UK
- All your usual kit.
- Back up of everything! Spare meters, lancets, testing strips, insulin pens, needles, set changes etc etc.
- Ketone Meter and strips.
- Spare Libre/Dexcom/CGM.
- Spare batteries for everything.
- Hypo treatments.
- Sick day rules and notes.
- Food for when you are travelling.
- Make sure you know where the nearest hospital/medical centre is where you are going.
- Carbs and Cals book if you plan on eating out.
Going abroad?
- A letter from your clinic or GP to state medical condition and requirement to carry needles and/or explaining pumps.
- Travel insurance that covers your T1 family member.
- If you are going somewhere hot invest in some Frio bags to keep your insulin cool.
- Flying? Contact your airline before hand – they might let you take an extra bag in the cabin to carry all the kit and spares (all to be carried as hand luggage). Print out the email as proof you are allowed an extra bag just in case.
- Find out if your equipment such as pumps can go through the airport scanners (our son was wearing Libre and was fine. Didn’t affect the Libre and he didn’t set the alarms off).
- Remember the 100ml liquid limit. Gluco Juice bottles are only 60ml.
- Some families Googled translate a few phrases such as “My son is 6 years old. He is an insulin dependent Type 1 Diabetic. His glucose levels are high/low. He needs insulin/glucose” just in case there is a language barrier. Simple as the phrases are they would point a medical team in the right direction. Obviously Google translating sentences is not 100% reliable! If you know someone who speaks the language even better. Or check with someone that your phrases are correct once you arrive.
Be aware that extreme heat/cold can affect glucose levels.
Bad Airport experience?
If you have a poor experience at airport security of any UK airport, please report it so action to improve can be taken by emailing rachel@ufofreight.com with the following information; the airport name, date, approximate time, flight number and a description of what happened.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Medical Device Awareness Card
There is now a Medical Device Awareness Card for those with type 1 diabetes to use when going through airports to travel abroad.
The card which can be downloaded now for free has been launched in partnership with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Airport Operators Association (AOA). The download is available from this page of the CAA website just in case the download link above stops working at any time.
The card provides information for both the passenger and Security Officer.
The following advice is for the passenger:
- Don’t forget to bring your medical evidence (e.g. letter from a medical practitioner) to confirm your medical device such as an insulin pump or Continuous Glucose Monitoring system (CGMs). Have this ready to show the Security Officer, along with this card.
- Make the airport Security Officer aware of the device, and exactly what it is and where it is located.
- If you are carrying a spare medical device, remove it from your cabin bag before the x-ray and let the Security Officer know.
- Contact the airport if you have any concerns or queries before you travel: note that screening equipment and processes may differ from airport to airport.
- Check with your return airport (if outside the UK) on their arrangements for screening medical devices.
The following advice is for the airport security team.
- Regulations allow passengers with diabetes related medical devices to ask for an alternative security screening process.
- Passengers with a medical device such as an insulin pump or Continuous Glucose Monitoring system (CGMs) should not be screened by a security scanner; if they opt out of this they must be offered an alternative screening method.
- Passengers must never be asked to remove a medical device from their body for screening.
- Medical devices (including spare devices) should not go through x-ray machines. Alternative screening processes can be undertaken such as hand search, supported by ETD.
Diabetes Travel Calculator
The Diabetes travel calculator is a useful tool for when travelling on long haul flights. You enter your travel times and where you are travelling to and from and the calculator provides you a schedule recommending when you should test blood glucose levels.
The Diabetes travel calculator is on the website www.diabetestravel.org which was created in August 2015 as a free online resource for the diabetes community. Before setting off, we will walk you through the travel process with diabetes considerations in mind—what to pack, letters for travel, airport security, beach day advice and more!
Sunflower Lanyard
Many UK airports offer of a discreet identifier (usually a ‘sunflower’ lanyard), for those who have a hidden or not so obvious medical condition or disability. Please see the Special Assistance counters at the airport. Hopefully this will ensure you have a smoother journey through the airport. More information is available on the Civil Aviation Authority website.
Inspiring blog by Kev Winchcombe
Seven months after Amy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes we backpacked around India for four weeks.