Diabetes and Travel - Carry A Doctor's Note

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.