Unconsciousness or fainting is an occurrence that we are all familiar with. It is usually a symptom of an underlying medical issue. Here the PatientsEngage team helps you understand the many causes of fainting and when to see a doctor.
Unconsciousness is like a switch turning off, and most people know this as something far more familiar called fainting. When someone faints, the brain temporarily receives less blood than it needs, leading to a brief loss of awareness to their surroundings.…
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.
Changed
10/Jul/2019
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