Traveling with type 1 diabetes
Since March 2024, we have been traveling the world as a couple from Germany and experiencing a wide variety of adventures. But with type 1 diabetes, in addition to the fascinating experiences, there are also some challenges that we have to overcome. Here are our experiences and tips on how we deal with the obstacles.
Nutrition
The food in different countries is often a surprise. In Vietnam, we were surprised by sweet but delicious pho soups, while in Malaysia, the rich curries and our favorite dish, nasi lemak, consisting of rice, were a challenge.
Our tips:
- Research in advance: Before we travel to a new country, we find out about the local dishes and their nutritional values. Take a close look at food in the supermarket. Tomato sauce in the Philippines, for example, has much more sugar than the one we are used to in Germany.
- Have snacks with you: We always carry emergency snacks such as nuts, glucose, juice or muesli bars.
- Cooking for ourselves: Where possible, we book accommodation with cooking facilities. This means we can prepare our own meals and have better control over what we eat. It’s also easy on the wallet and fun.
Temperature and climate
The temperatures in Southeast Asia are a real challenge for us and our insulin. The high humidity and heat in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia don’t make it easy.
Our tips:
- Keeping insulin cool: We use special cool bags to protect our insulin even at high temperatures. Take a look at our page on transporting insulin.
- Regular blood glucose testing: We check our blood glucose levels more frequently, especially in extreme weather. Either with the Freestyle Libre 3 Sensor or blood with the One Touch meter.
- Adaptation of activities: In hot weather, we avoid intensive physical activity and prefer to seek out shady spots.
Movement
Our travels are full of adventure, be it hiking in the rainforest of Malaysia or diving in the waters of Bali. These activities have a significant impact on our blood sugar levels.
Our tips:
- Measure blood sugar: We measure our blood sugar before and after every activity to prevent hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
- Snacks with a high carbohydrate content: We always carry snacks such as bananas, sugary drinks or energy bars with us.
- Adjust insulin dose: We adjust our insulin dose depending on our activity level. This varies between basal and bolus insulin. If we are climbing a volcano the next day, we inject less basal insulin the evening before.
Time change
The time change can be a real challenge. When we traveled from Germany to Asia, we had to completely adjust our insulin times.
Our tips:
- Gradual adjustment: We gradually adjust our insulin schedule to the new time zone. For every hour of time difference, we inject one hour earlier or later each day. Example: 6 hours later in the Philippines → start injecting one hour later each day 6 days before.
- Jet lag management: Getting enough sleep and slowly adjusting our eating times help us to overcome jet lag.
- Consultation with the doctor: Before longer trips, we draw up an injection schedule and set an alarm clock to remind us of the right time.
Self-management
In some countries, medical care is not at the same level as in Germany. It is therefore important to always have enough insulin and accessories with you.
Our tips:
- Take a supply with you: We always take enough insulin and test strips for the entire trip. Always plan for a buffer, i.e. if you have planned 2 packs of test strips, take a third with you to be on the safe side, because unfortunately we have also had numerous duds.
- Check medical care: After arrival, we obtain information directly from pharmacies about medical care in the destination country and about diabetes accessories.
- Medical certificate: A medical certificate and a prescription for insulin will help us to avoid potential problems on entry.
Use of sensors and injections
During our journey we use continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and insulin pens. We often face curious looks when we use our devices. Many people still don’t know what type 1 diabetes really means and think that it is just a “sugar disease” that is either inherited or caused by consuming too much sugar. It is also common for even pharmacists to not think about different types of diabetes and the first thing they want to do is sell us pills or other medications for type 2 diabetics.
Our tips:
- Education: We use moments like this to educate people about diabetes. We explain that it’s not just about sugar, but about carbohydrates, which are contained in many foods, not just sweets.
- Demonstration: If people are interested, we show them how we measure our blood sugar levels and inject insulin.
- Conversations: We talk about the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and explain that as type 1 diabetics, we don’t have to avoid sugar completely, but we need to keep an eye on our carbohydrate intake and inject insulin accordingly.
Transporting insulin
Transporting insulin safely is one of the biggest challenges when traveling. We have written a more detailed article on transporting insulin for this purpose.
Our tips:
- Cooling: The use of special cooling bags that also work at high temperatures to keep insulin cool. Disoncare and Frio. Plan sufficient cooling in the form of a refrigerator and freezer before and immediately after transportation (flight/bus ride/train ride/ferry ride).
- Plan your supply: Always take more insulin than you think you need to be prepared for unexpected situations.
- Storage: Always store insulin in a cool, dark place. Avoid direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
- Medical certificate: Carry a medical certificate and prescription with you to avoid problems when entering other countries.
:
Final thoughts
Traveling with diabetes has shown us how important it is to remain flexible and adapt to the unpredictable. Proper planning and preparation are key to transporting insulin safely. Cool bags and a sufficient supply are essential. Despite the challenges, traveling with type 1 diabetes is doable and worthwhile. It requires a little more preparation and mindfulness, but the unforgettable experiences and adventures make it absolutely worth it.
With the right preparation, we diabetics can also discover the world and make lots of unforgettable memories. We hope that our experiences and tips will help other diabetics to plan and enjoy their own trips.
Traveling with diabetes is possible and we want to show and encourage everyone!
Important:
Please bear in mind that we are not doctors and have no medical training. Our reports and texts are based on our experiences for over 6 years and are individually tailored to Rebecca and are not intended as individual or general advice.